elukäik

Elukäik is an Estonian term that denotes the course of a person's life, encompassing the major events, experiences, and transitions that shape an individual's development. It includes factors such as education, employment, family life, health, housing, and social circumstances, as well as turning points like schooling completion, career changes, marriage, parenthood, illness, or retirement. The concept emphasizes that life is not a fixed destiny but a trajectory that unfolds over time within a social context.

In sociology and demography, elukäik refers to the life-course trajectory of an individual. Researchers study how early-life conditions, education systems, labor markets, and family structures influence later outcomes, including career stability, income, health, and life expectancy. The approach highlights the cumulative and interconnected nature of events across different life stages and often uses longitudinal data.

The term is distinct from elulugu, which means a narrative life story or biography, and from CV or curriculum vitae, which records professional qualifications. Elukäik is used more as an analytical concept describing patterns and processes rather than as a personal resume.

Etymology: elu means life, käik means course or progression, together indicating the path a life follows.

See also: life-course theory, Lebenslauf, elulugu.