CHAPTER 5 AGING AND INEQUALITY

Growing Old  Life course: socially constructed stages that people pass through as they live out their lives  Gerontology: a branch of social sciences dealing with aging and the elderly  Growing old involves biological changes; how a culture defines this stage of life makes a difference in the reality of old age In pre-industrial societies, elders comprise a social elite (i.e., gerontocracy) In industrial societies, the elderly are viewed as a social problem Societies differ in their definitions of “old age”

Life Expectancy  The number of years, on average, people in a society can expect to live  Is greater in high income nations, lower in poorest nations

The Graying of the United States  When the U.S. declared its independence in 1776, half of the population was under the age of sixteen  By 1900, 4 percent of our population was over the age of sixty-five  Today, 13 percent of our population is over the age of sixty-five  By 2030, it is projected that 20 percent of our population will be over the age of sixty-five

Elders: A Diverse Population  The elderly population is increasing faster than the population as a whole  Researchers report three levels of “old” younger old: years of age older old: years of age oldest old: 85 and older  Seniors are a socially diverse population in terms of economics, race, ethnicity, and gender

Problems of Aging  Social isolation becomes a problem as people enter retirement: closes off an important source of contact with others Retirement poses problems as one leaves paid work behind

Ageism  Ageism: prejudice and discrimination directed against older people involves both age-based prejudice and age-based discrimination often combines with other forms of prejudice, placing older women (and older people of color) at a special disadvantage ageism in the mass media

Elder Abuse  Elder abuse often goes undetected because victims are fearful or ashamed to tell others  People who abuse family members were often abused as children

Caregiving  Informal and unpaid care provided to a dependent person by family members, other relatives or friends  Most caregivers are women

Poverty  10 percent of people in the US over the age of 65 live below the official poverty line  Age Stratification: social inequality among various age categories within a society  Intersection Theory: intersection of age, race, ethnicity, and gender causes further social inequality

Housing  Homes of the elderly are often older than average for a community many elders homes need repairs, insulation, and updated heating and air conditioning systems  The best housing options are available only to affluent elders  The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operates the largest program to assist lower-income seniors with housing

Housing  Reverse mortgages option  Due to high cost of housing and declining income, many elders cut costs by sharing a home (about 15 percent of U.S. seniors share a home with an unrelated adult)

Medical Care  Since 1965, Medicare has provided benefits that pay for hospital care and 80% of other medical care costs for persons 65 years of age and over  To cover other medical costs, 3 out of 4 elders purchase private health insurance  On the average, the elderly spend 20% of their income on health care

Death and Dying  Culture guides how people view death and dying  Technological advances in modern societies have removed death and dying from everyday life  Euthanasia (active and passive) and physician-assisted suicide have sparked the “right to die” debate that exists in the U.S. today As the elder population rapidly increases, the “right to die” debate is certain to continue

Hospice  Homelike care that provides physical and emotional comfort to dying people and their families  Popular due to comfortable environment for death to occur

Structural-Functional Analysis: The Need to Disengage  Disengagement theory contends that modern societies operate more smoothly by disengaging people from positions of responsibility as they enter old age  Proponents say that disengagement is vital to society as a whole and provides older people with the prospect of rest, relaxation, and travel after years of hard work  Critics believe that disengagement of the elderly carries personal costs, including loss of status and income as well as social isolation

Symbolic-Interaction Analysis: Staying Active  Activity theory accepts the basic idea of disengagement but adds that people try to replace old roles with new ones  A shortcoming of activity theory is that it overlooks the fact that at least some old people are not physically able to maintain a busy schedule

Social-Conflict Analysis: Age and Inequality  Highlights age stratification, pointing out ways that society limits older people’s opportunities and resources  Modern societies define elderly people in negative terms, causing both prejudice and discrimination

Social-Conflict Analysis: Age and Inequality  Conflict theorists contend that capitalist societies turn old people into second-class citizens as a means of increasing profit  Critics say that age is only one dimension of social stratification; one also needs to recognize the effects on the elderly of class, race, and gender

Politics and Aging  Conservatives: More family responsibility Believe that today’s society suffers from weaker family ties Emphasize the importance of self- reliance, arguing that people should take responsibility for their own old age by planning and saving throughout their lives

Politics and Aging  Liberals: More Government Assistance Older people have faced racial and gender discrimination Many families rely on dual incomes and can’t afford to care for their elders Few older people want to depend on their children

Politics and Aging  Radicals: Capitalism and the Elderly The culture of capitalism devalues people that are economically less productive Elderly people are a burden to the capitalist economy because they don’t work The solution to ageism is to replace the capitalist economy with a socialist economy