Age, Life Course, & Social Structure Gerontology – the scientific study of aging. Life course/Life stages – a succession of statuses and roles that people in a particular society experience in a fairly predictable pattern as the grow older.

Functionalist Perspective The stages of the life course are intimately related to the social needs of particular societies. - Pre-industrial – people learned how to fill adult positions early in life – 8 to mid-teens Technology was simple Little training or education was needed People worked as they grew old

- Industrial societies Complex technologies needing highly educated and well-trained workforce. Small number of people capable of providing all of the goods and services. Age of entering workforce is postponed and adolescence is used to prepare Older workers are forced out of the market thereby reducing the number of workers competing for limited jobs

The functionalist perspective – the treatment of the young and old becomes a social problem when it is inconsistent with their capabilities and development, both biological and social. When age is used as an arbitrary criterion for inequitable treatment, it is dysfunctional and can lead to social disorganization. Young people prevented from gaining prestige thru employment (crime & drugs) Elderly forced into retirement (depression & alcoholism)

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE The position of the young and old are not unlike those of other minority groups: less access to social, political, and economic power and are dominated by groups with more resources. Preindustrial society – - Elderly held more power b/c they owned and controlled many economic resources. - Kinship ties more important b/c children economically dependent on parents to get started. - Customs and laws supported dominant position of the elderly Industrial society – - Family ties less important and no longer a source of power and prestige for elderly - Elderly no longer hold positions of economic power The position of any age group in society is determined by the social, political, and economic resources that group has access to.

AGE STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY Preindustrial society – age structure was bottom heavy with young people representing a large proportion of the population. - 40-50% fifteen or younger - 6% older than 65 High birth rates and death rates. Many people are born but few live to old age. Industrial society - lower birth rates and longer life expectancy make the population “top heavy.” Dependency ratio: the relative size of the group in our society that is economically dependent for support on others who are working. - 1900s – there were 7 older people for each one hundred ppl between 18 to 64 - Today – the rate is 19 - 2050 – projected rate is 33 - 2100 – projected rate is 40 As society ages those who are dependent become a significantly larger proportion of the population.

Problems of the Young

PROBLEMS OF THE YOUNG Economic Exploitation: Africa 1/3 children work; Latin America 15-20% work - poverty forces families to exploit their children to survive - factory owners find children an easy and profitable group to exploit - the public is often indifferent to the issue Family instability – many children of divorce have strong emotional problems; do less well in school; are more prone to delinquency & other behavior problems. - low income - inadequate parental guidance - less access to community resources Poverty – many children are at risk of growing up in poverty. - poverty rate among children 17% today vs 14% in 1969 - one-third of nation’s poor are under 16 - often face further poverty in adulthood due to their poverty stricken childhood that failed to provide them with the resources and motivation to achieve as adults. Sexual exploition Child abuse

PROBLEMS OF THE ELDERLY Work & Retirement – Mandatory retirement eliminated in the US with Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and amended in 1986. - Older workers being forced out of the job market “restructuring” - Younger workers are cheaper and less healthcare costs - EEOC received 14,000 complaints of age discrimination each year. Poverty & Financial Problems – Annual income for 65 & older is considerably less than other families. Poverty rates are high among older women living alone, older African-Americans, and older Hispanics. Three-quarters of the poor among the elderly are women. - Elderly are more likely to be outside of the workforce and prevented from earning a high income. - Worked for years at jobs with no retirement pension plan or with few benefits. Social Isolation Domestic Violence Health Problems Fear of Crime Institutions & Nursing Homes

Problems of The Elderly Social Isolation Older people maintain relatively extensive contacts and involvements with friends and acquaintances. People in advanced old age or with serious physical ailments are most likely to suffer from social isolation. Domestic Violence Elders who are dependent on others for care face the potential problem of physical and psychological abuse. Health problems Almost half of people older than sixty-five years in the U.S. experience some limitations in the activities because of chronic illness.

Homosexuality Homosexuality refers to sexual feelings, attractions, and actions directed toward members of the same sex.

Theories of Sexual Orientation Biological explanations People are born with tendencies regarding sexual orientation. Psychological explanations Early explanations focused on psychological maladjustment; however, there is no proof of homosexuality as an indicator of poor psychological adjustment. Sociological explanations Sociological theories suggest that, like heterosexuality, homosexuality can be the result of learning through interaction with others.

Societal Reaction to Homosexuality Many of the problems surrounding sexual orientation have to do with the negative reactions of many heterosexuals to gays and lesbians. Areas of discrimination include employment, housing, and the military. Homophobia refers to an intense dislike of or prejudice against homosexuals. The gay community is a subculture that reproduces the cultural and institutional frameworks of the larger culture but casts them in light of acceptance for gays and their way of life.

Future Prospects Efforts to improve the status of the young focus on finding more equitable distribution of resources between the young and the old. Many policies have focused on reducing the risks that youth may be exposed to such as poverty, family violence, sexual exploitation, and other forms of discrimination and exploitation.

Future Prospects Efforts to improve the status of the elderly have focused on ensuring that more people have adequate access to financial resources including retirement pensions, Social Security, and savings and assets; better health care; and adequate living arrangements including alternative arrangements such as age-integrated housing, government subsidized housing and supported living environments.

Future Prospects In good part because of the effective use of collective action by gays and lesbians, homosexuality is more public and widely accepted today, and is more protected from discrimination and other negative reactions. However, significant sources of homophobia persist.

In some families the elderly live in the homes of their children and grandchildren. The generation in between the young and the elderly has been called the sandwich generation. What are the pros and cons when there are multiple generations living together? What stressors are there for the sandwich generation?