1. Chapter 5
Aging and Inequality

2. 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;
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3. Growing Old
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”
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4. 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
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6. The Graying of the United States
When the U.S. declared its independence in 1776:
Half of the population was under the age of 16
By 1900, 4% of our population was over the age of 65
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7. The Graying of the United States
Today, about 13% of our population is over the age of 65
By 2040, it is projected that 20% of our population will be over the age of 65
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9. Elders: A Diverse Population
The elderly population is increasing faster than the population as a whole
Seniors are a socially diverse population
In terms of economics, race, ethnicity, and gender
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10. Elders: A Diverse Population
Researchers report three levels of “old”
younger old: years of age
older old: years of age
oldest old: 85 and older
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. Elder Abuse
Often goes undetected because victims are fearful or ashamed to tell others
People who abuse family members were often abused as children
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14. Caregiving Informal and unpaid care provided to a dependent person
By family members, other relatives or friends
Most caregivers are women
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15. Poverty
About 9% of people in the U.S. age 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
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18. Housing
Homes of the elderly are often older than average for a community
Many elders homes need repairs, insulation, & updated heating & air conditioning systems
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Operates the largest program to assist lower-income seniors with housing
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19. Housing Reverse mortgages option
Due to high cost of housing and declining income:
Many elders cut costs by sharing a home
About 10% of U.S. seniors share a home with an unrelated adult
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20. Medical Care
Since 1965, Medicare has provided benefits that pay for hospital care
And most of other medical care costs for persons 65 years of age and over
Prescription drug subsidies added to Medicare in 2003
On the average, the elderly spend 10% of their income on health care
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21. Death and Dying Culture guides how people view death and dying
Technological advances in modern societies
Have removed death and dying from everyday life
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22. Death and Dying
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
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23. Hospice
Homelike care
Provides physical and emotional comfort to dying people and their families
Popular due to comfortable environment for death to occur
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24. 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
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25. Structural-Functional Analysis: The Need to Disengage
Provides older people with prospect of rest, relaxation, & 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
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26. 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:
Overlooks that at least some old people are not physically able to maintain busy schedules
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27. 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
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28. Social-Conflict Analysis: Age and Inequality
Conflict theorists contend that:
Capitalist societies turn old people into second-class citizens to increase 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
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29. Feminist Analysis: The Importance of Gender
Directing attention to the importance of gender in understanding old
Disadvantages resulting from gender stratification faced by women
Do not disappear when people enter old age
Intersection Theory: Multiple Disadvantages
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30. Politics and Aging Conservatives: More family responsibility
Believe that today’s society suffers from weaker family ties
Emphasize the importance of self-reliance
Argue that people should take responsibility for their old age
Planning & saving throughout their life
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31. 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
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32. 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
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