Chapter 6 Race and Ethnicity

Frameworks for Defining Minority Experience in the United States Melting Pot –Taking in people from around the world and turning them into Americans Assimilation Pluralistic Society –Many racial and ethnic groups exist side by side © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.1 Population of the U.S. by Racial and Ethnic Group, 2005 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.2 Racial and Ethnic Composition of the Population 65+ © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.3 Percentage of a Group with Income from a Specified Source © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.4 Median Income by Age, Race, and Hispanic Origin, 2008 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.5 Respondent-Assessed Health Status © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.6 Proportion of Minorities in the U.S. Population Age –50 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Whites – The Dominant Group Variety of European ethnic origins Long history of settlement in USA More formal education, lower rates of poverty Make more use of formal support systems –Most programs originally designed for this group © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Diversity of the Minority Population Differences in –Mortality; Fertility; Migration Subgroups differ in: –demography –cultural background –reasons they came to the US –how they came to the US © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.7 Subgroups within the Hispanic U.S. Older Population (65+) © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.8 Percent Age 65+ by Race and Hispanic Origin for the US © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Aging of the Minority Population Minority population in US is aging along with general population aging Overall all aged 85+ will increase 4-fold by 2050 All older minority groups expected to increase © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Three Theories on Minority Group Aging Multiple Jeopardy Critique of Multiple Jeopardy Theory Leveling The Life Course Perspective Institutional Completeness: An Example of Life Course Differences Structured Inequality and Personal History © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Theories of Minority Group Aging The Life Course Perspective Life unfolds from birth to death in three contexts: Social; Cultural; Historical Differences between: –Minority groups –Cultural subgroups within minority groups –Age cohorts among minority group members Looks for continuities and discontinuities © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups African Americans Health –Worse than Whites on most measures –Greater risks of heart disease cancer cerebrovascular disease diabetes © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups African Americans Health Income Family & Community Life –Problem view; Adaptive view Social Support African American Men © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups African Americans The Future of African American Aging –May have fewer family resources for care –Fewer men in later life due to high mortality of younger men –Wider gap in socioeconomic experiences between poor/middle class African Americans © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Table 6.1 Older People Below Poverty by Age & Race/Ethnicity © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.9 Profile of the Elderly Poor, 2007 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Figure 6.10 Percent Hispanic for the Older Population © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Hispanic Americans Health –Lower death rates than whites of some diseases –Greater rates of some diseases and conditions than Whites or African Americans –More likely than whites to have “accelerated aging” © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Hispanic Americans Income –Lower than African Americans or Whites –Consistent picture of low SES and inadequate financial resources –Lifelong history of low paying jobs –SSI main source of income for 1 in 5 –Poverty © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Hispanic Americans Family & Community Life –Cultural background supports multigenerational living arrangements Especially if migrant –Subgroup differences in types of support to and from family and community © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Hispanic Americans The Future of Hispanic American Aging –Diverse cultural subgroups will continue to experience differences in proximity to support –Urban older adults may have more formal supports, rural may rely on informal supports –Service providers must shape programs to meet subgroup needs © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Asian Americans Health –Generally good health Subgroups affected by different illnesses –Few studies of older Asian American health care needs Need more from these groups in research samples –More than 20 different ethnicities © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Asian Americans Income and Poverty –Highest economic status of any minority group Family and Community Life –Most come from traditions that respect older people –Often do give a great deal of care © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups Hispanic Americans The Future of Asian American Aging –Grown faster than any other minority since 1970 –Language and cultural barriers keep some from needed help –Social services agencies should recruit Asian American workers © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups American Indians & Alaskan Natives Health and Income –Poor health –Greatest likelihood of lifetime health problems –Lower than other US populations –60% of American Indians worry about the cost of basic items © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

A Look at Four Minority Groups American Indians & Alaskan Natives Family & Community Life –Grandparenting –Eldercare The Future of American Indian Aging –The “Paradox of Aging” –Indian Health Service must improve screening and culturally appropriate services © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Responses to Minority Group Aging Minority elders will take a more active role in society in future Group associations carry group concerns to govt. Challenges for a Diverse Older Population Future Issues © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.