copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 5 inequality based on age this multimedia product and...

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Chapter 5

Inequality Based on Age

This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:

• Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network;

• Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images;

• Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.


What is Ageism?

Prejudice and discrimination against people based on age

Perpetuates negative stereotypes and age-based discriminationChildren, adolescents, but mostly the

elderly


Figure 5.1: U.S. Age Pyramid by Age and Sex, 1970 and 2003

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004c.


Social Inequality and the Life CourseLife course: The age-based categories through which people

pass

Social gerontology: The study of the social aspects of aging

Childhood: Powerlessness makes children vulnerable to problems Family instability, poverty, maltreatment, sexual abuse

Adolescence: Not treated as children or adults Teen pregnancy, conflicting demands for money and school

attendance Child labor, unemployment, property crime


Social Inequality and the Life Course, Cont’d.Young adulthood New roles and new sense of freedom Alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, employment instabilityMiddle age (ages 40 to 60 or 65) Visible signs of aging and role change Caring for older peopleLater maturity and old age (begins in late 60s or 70s) Social changes Peer groups shrink as friends and relatives die Biological changes


Frameworks for Death and Dying

Stage-based Approach (Kubler-Ross, 1969) Denial (Not me.) Anger (Why me?) Bargaining and asking for divine intervention

(Yes me, but . . .) Depression and sense of loss Acceptance

Critique: Kubler-Ross focused primarily on younger people with terminal illnesses.


Frameworks for Death and Dying, Cont’d.

Dying Trajectory ( Glaser and Strauss, 1968)People move toward death at different speeds and in different ways:

May be sudden (e.g., heart attack) or slow (e.g., lung cancer)

Comprises three phases: Acute—Maximum anxiety and fear Chronic—Anxiety declines as person confronts reality Terminal—Withdrawal from others


Frameworks for Death and Dying, Cont’d.

Task-Based Approach (Corr et al., 1994)Daily activities can still be enjoyed and make the dying

process easier for all. Physical tasks: Satisfy bodily needs and minimize

physical distress Psychological tasks: Maximize psychological security,

autonomy and richness of experience Social tasks: Sustain and enhance interpersonal

attachments Spiritual tasks: Identify sources of spiritual energy and

hope


Social Support for Death and Dying

Living will Document which states the medical

circumstances under which life should be allowed to end

Hospices Organizations that provide homelike or home-

based care for people who are terminally ill


Figure 5.2: U.S. Population Growth

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000.


Problems Associated with Aging

Age stratification The inequities, differences, segregation, or conflict

between age groups. Occurs throughout life (Atchley, 2004)

Workplace discrimination Preference for younger workers

Pay them less, more motivated, and fewer health issues Despite negative stereotypes, some companies do

hire older employees


Problems Associated with Aging, Cont’d.

Retirement and changing roles Adapting to less income, increased dependency, and

role loss Especially hard for lower-paid employees without

pension

Health, Illness, and Health Care A greater problem for young and middle aged people Malnutrition is a problem especially for older people


Problems Associated with Aging, Cont’d.

Victimization Through con artists Through elder abuse by relatives

Between 1 and 2 million people over the age of 65 have been victimized by someone who they depend on (2005)

Family problems and social isolation Reduced contact with families Homelessness

Housing problems and long-term care facilities Planned housing can be quite expensive Nursing homes may depersonalize individuals and violate

regulations


Sociological Perspectives:Functionalist Perspective

Stability of society requires that older people detach.

Disengagement Theory (Cumming and Henry, 1961) Older people want to be released from social

expectations. Detachment is characterized by a gradual transfer of

statuses and roles.

Critique: Older people disengage because of lack of opportunity, not by choice.


Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Interactionist Activity Theory (Havighurst et al., 1968) Older people who are active are happier and better

adjusted Older people find meaningful substitutes for previous

roles

Role Theory (Cowgill, 1986) Industrial, urbanized societies lack roles for older people

(Cowgill, 1986) Ethnic sub-cultures may value the elderly (Gelfand,

1994)


Conflict Perspective Aging itself is not a social problem

Inadequate resources, such as income and housing, are the problem

Older people are exploited by a capitalist society with an emphasis on profits from anti-aging products, not products that meet real needs


Reducing Age-Based Inequality

Functionalists Changes in families and other social institutions Socialization of individuals to care for an increasing number of

generations More community services, such as day-care centers for children

and seniors

Conflict theorists Age-based inequality is rooted in power differentials We need continued group activism

Interactionists support The need to maintain strong relationships with others That ethnic groups may offer active roles for older people

copyright © allyn & bacon 2007 chapter 5 inequality based on age this multimedia product and...

Documents