Chapter 5 Inequality Based on Age. Ageism and the Life Course Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age –Marginalizes older

Chapter 5

Inequality Based on Age

Ageism and the Life Course

• Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age – Marginalizes older people

• Social Gerontology: study of the social aspects of aging

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The Life Course

• Childhood:– Infants: Birth to age 2; Children: Age 3 to 12– Most powerless individuals in society

• Adolescence– New concept in 20th century– Hard to define particular age range– Caught in between children and adulthood


The Life Course

• Young Adulthood:– Early to mid 20’s until about age 39;

Acquisition of new roles; New freedom

• Middle Age:– Age 40 to about 60/65– Experience senescence (physical changes)

and secondary aging (environmental factors)


The Life Course

• Later Maturity – Begins in 60’s; Peer groups shrink– May care for others their age or older

• Old Age:– Begins in late 60’s or 70’s– Generally out of paid employment– Increase in likelihood of medical conditions


Life Expectancy

• Life Expectancy:– Average length of time a group of individuals

will live.

• Age categories: – Young old: 65-74 years old; Old Old: 75-84– Oldest Old: 85+: Fastest growing group in US




Stage-based Approach

• Elisabeth Kubler-Ross says there are 5 stages in the dying process:– Denial– Anger– Bargaining and asking for divine intervention– Depression– Acceptance


Dying Trajectory

• Not everyone moves toward death at the same speed and in the same way

• Trajectories can be:– Sudden (heart attack); Slow (lung cancer)

• 3 Phases:– Acute phase; Chronic phase; Terminal phase


Task-Based Approach

• Daily activities can still be enjoyed during dying process

• Fulfilling tasks makes it easier on all involved

• 3 main types of tasks:– Physical tasks; Psychological tasks; Spiritual

tasks


Problems Associated with Aging

• Workplace discrimination:– Age Discrimination in Employment Act 1967– Protects workers age 45 and up

• Retirement:– Separation of an individual from occupation– Compulsory retirement laws less common– Differs for racial groups (white advantage)



• Health, Illness, and Health Care:– Older people healthier today– Malnutrition big problem for elderly– Most eligible for Medicare

• Victimization:– Less likely to be victims of violent crime– Targets of scams; Experience elder abuse



• Family Problems and Social Isolation:– Become socially isolated from their families– Many elderly live alone

• Housing patterns:– Whites, those 85+, and females are more

likely– Women more likely to live alone


Perspectives on Aging

• Functionalist:– Older people should detach themselves from

society: • For healthy adjustment and stability of society

– Disengagement theory: • Older people want to be released from societal

expectations of productivity



• Interactionist:– Focus on relationship between life satisfaction

and level of activity– Activity Theory:

• Older people happier/better adjusted if are active• Shift gears later in life to find meaningful

substitutes for previous activities.



• Conflict:– Some older people have inadequate

resources in society– People who are disadvantaged in younger

years become more so in older years


Solutions to Age Inequality

• Technology might bring more freedom for older people

• Dependency ratio

• Functionalists suggest changes in families and other social institutions

• Interactionists suggestion maintaining strong relationships


Documents

Chapter 5 Inequality Based on Age. Ageism and the Life Course Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age –Marginalizes older