AGE STRATIFICATION (CHAPTER 13)
AGING IS A SOCIAL CONCEPT AS WELL AS A BIOLOGICAL ONE
The text reminds us that age is an ASCRIBED status that dominates people's
perceptions of us, shapes our identity, and becomes a magnate for labels,
stereotypes, and often enough, stigma.
"GREYING OF AMERICA"
A) LIVING LONGER
B) BABY BOOM
SENILICIDE/GERONTOCRACY--EXPLAIN EACH
HOW IS THIS TIED TO STRATIFICATION??
The five basic properties of a minority or subordinate group apply here,
and for aging, we learn:
1) The elderly experience unequal treatment in employment and may
face prejudice and discrimination
2) The elderly share physical characteristics that distinguish
them from others
3) Membership is involuntary
4) Older people have a strong sense of group solidarity
5) Older people generally married to others of the same age
THEORIES OF AGING:
CHECK OUT THE CHART ON P 309:
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THEORY VIEW OF AGING SOCIAL ROLES IMAGES OF OLD FOLK
Functionalist Disengagement Reduced Socially isolated
Interationist Active engagement Changed Involved
Conflict Competition Unchanged Victimized/
Reduced power
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FUNCTIONALISM:
DYSENGAGEMENT THEORY--INEVITABILITY OF DEATH REQUIRES THAT WE
WITHDRAW FROM MANY OF OUR ACTIVITIES (IE, DISENGAGE) AND THE
FUNCTIONS TAKEN OVER BY YOUNGER PERSONS. AT THE SAME TIME,
SOCIETY WITHDRAWS FROM THE ELDERLY.
EXPLAIN ENGAGEMENT/REENGAGEMENT ETC
INTERACTIONIST THEORY:
ACTIVITY THEORY---PEOPLE WHO REMAIN ACTIVE WILL BE BETTER ADJUSTED
(SUBSTITUTE FORMER ACTIVITIES WITH NEW ONES)
SUBSTITUTION THEORY: ANOTHER NAME FOR ACTIVITY THEORY
CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES
They look at social strcutre on patterns of aging and ask: "Why
must certain patterns of interaction change with aging?
How does power and privilege (and other power advantages) shape
aging?
NOTE: THese 3 theories take different views of the elderly.
a) Functionalists: Elderly portrayed as socially isolated with
reduced roles;
b) Interactionists see older people as involved in new networks
as roles change;
c) Conflict theories tend to focus on victimization
ROLE TRANSITIONS OVER THE LIFE COURSE
Transitional perions begin at about 17 to 22 (entering the adult world);
SECOND period begins about age 40 (for males, "midlife crisis")
THIRD: Late life transition (mortality)
DISCUSS:
1) GENERATION GAP
2) LABOR FORCE COMPETITION
3) AGE SEGREGATION
4) ELDER ABUSE WHAT ARE STEREOTYPES OF ELDERLY??
SOCIAL POLICY:
A) RETIREMENT CHANGES
B) LAWS PROTECTING THEM
C) ACTIVITIES FOR THEM
D) ETC
DYING:
ELISABETH KUBLER-ROSS:
A) DENIAL
B) ANGER
C) BARGAIN
D) DEPRESSION
E) ACCEPTANCE
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