Georgia Emmy Abbey

The Old Age affects health as older people are more likely to develop long term illnesses. The English longitudinal study of ageing was set up by Michael marmite. It looked at 8,500 people from different social classes born before It looked at how often they visited a nurse their blood pressure and lung function. It also showed there is a strong relationship between wealth and mortality. People over 65 are likely to be involved in religious activity. The elderly are loosing their faith in god

Bradley described age is the neglected dimension of inequality Whereas in some traditional societies age was venerated as the old in modern Britain where they are labelled as past any meaningful contribution Bradley argues that this negative image of the old is a social construct – their low status is ascribed Negative ascribed characteristics exclude old people from a full and equal role in society.

The UK is an ageing population There will be over 12 million OAPs by 2021 New Right suggests that this will have serious implications for the welfare state as the old use its services more than the young, and for the economy as a smaller working population supports a larger dependent population This is why new labour have attempts to raise the retirement age.

The Young The young constitute a sub group of the poor. Youth poverty is caused by low pay, student loans, ineligibility for benefits and a high un employment rate. Youth poverty is also affected by other social cleavage- for instance young black males are twice as likely to be unemployed than white young males.

Kids under the age of 15 are also those most likely to believe in God and attend church. Amen to that !

In work young people get paid less, minimum age is lower for those under the age of 22. Students in higher education face higher debts to pay off Income support and Housing benefits are given at a lower rate to those under the age of 25. Young people face discrimination in society Stereotyped as irresponsible.

Sociological Explanations Functionalists see age inequality as useful to society. Important as it integrates people into society. The role sets of the different age groups allow a person to develop full functioning in society However they don’t explain the role of the elderly, who tend to disengage from society Marxists see age inequality as helping capitalism by providing cheap labour – capitalism benefits from treating young workers differently because they can be paid less, and hired and fired more easily than older workers. Paying the younger less means more profits can be made. helps keep general wages lower. The elderly become irrelevent and marginalised. Weberians explain age inequality by reference to labour market position – Both old and young have a poor labour market compared to those in middle age.

By Sim & Laura