1. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Chapter 5 Inequality Based on Age This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: Any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; Preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; Any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 What is Ageism? Prejudice and discrimination against people based on age Perpetuates negative stereotypes and age-based discrimination  Children, adolescents, but mostly the elderly

3. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Figure 5.1: U.S. Age Pyramid by Age and Sex, 1970 and 2003 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2004c.

4. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Inequality and the Life Course Life course: The age-based categories through which people pass Social gerontology: The study of the social aspects of aging Childhood: Powerlessness makes children vulnerable to problems Family instability, poverty, maltreatment, sexual abuse Adolescence: Not treated as children or adults Teen pregnancy, conflicting demands for money and school attendance Child labor, unemployment, property crime

5. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Inequality and the Life Course, Cont’d. Young adulthood New roles and new sense of freedom Alcohol and drug abuse, divorce, employment instability Middle age (ages 40 to 60 or 65) Visible signs of aging and role change Caring for older people Later maturity and old age (begins in late 60s or 70s) Social changes Peer groups shrink as friends and relatives die Biological changes

6. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Frameworks for Death and Dying Stage-based Approach (Kubler-Ross, 1969) Denial (Not me.) Anger (Why me?) Bargaining and asking for divine intervention (Yes me, but...) Depression and sense of loss Acceptance Critique: Kubler-Ross focused primarily on younger people with terminal illnesses.

7. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Frameworks for Death and Dying, Cont’d. Dying Trajectory ( Glaser and Strauss, 1968) People move toward death at different speeds and in different ways: May be sudden (e.g., heart attack) or slow (e.g., lung cancer) Comprises three phases:  Acute—Maximum anxiety and fear  Chronic—Anxiety declines as person confronts reality  Terminal—Withdrawal from others

8. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Frameworks for Death and Dying, Cont’d. Task-Based Approach (Corr et al., 1994) Daily activities can still be enjoyed and make the dying process easier for all. Physical tasks: Satisfy bodily needs and minimize physical distress Psychological tasks: Maximize psychological security, autonomy and richness of experience Social tasks: Sustain and enhance interpersonal attachments Spiritual tasks: Identify sources of spiritual energy and hope

9. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Social Support for Death and Dying Living will  Document which states the medical circumstances under which life should be allowed to end Hospices  Organizations that provide homelike or home- based care for people who are terminally ill

10. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Figure 5.2: U.S. Population Growth Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000.

11. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Problems Associated with Aging Age stratification  The inequities, differences, segregation, or conflict between age groups.  Occurs throughout life (Atchley, 2004) Workplace discrimination  Preference for younger workers Pay them less, more motivated, and fewer health issues  Despite negative stereotypes, some companies do hire older employees

12. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Problems Associated with Aging, Cont’d. Retirement and changing roles  Adapting to less income, increased dependency, and role loss  Especially hard for lower-paid employees without pension Health, Illness, and Health Care A greater problem for young and middle aged people Malnutrition is a problem especially for older people

13. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Problems Associated with Aging, Cont’d. Victimization  Through con artists  Through elder abuse by relatives Between 1 and 2 million people over the age of 65 have been victimized by someone who they depend on (2005) Family problems and social isolation  Reduced contact with families  Homelessness Housing problems and long-term care facilities  Planned housing can be quite expensive  Nursing homes may depersonalize individuals and violate regulations

14. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Sociological Perspectives: Functionalist Perspective Stability of society requires that older people detach. Disengagement Theory (Cumming and Henry, 1961) Older people want to be released from social expectations. Detachment is characterized by a gradual transfer of statuses and roles. Critique: Older people disengage because of lack of opportunity, not by choice.

15. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Symbolic Interactionist Perspective Interactionist Activity Theory (Havighurst et al., 1968) Older people who are active are happier and better adjusted Older people find meaningful substitutes for previous roles Role Theory (Cowgill, 1986) Industrial, urbanized societies lack roles for older people (Cowgill, 1986) Ethnic sub-cultures may value the elderly (Gelfand, 1994)

16. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Conflict Perspective Aging itself is not a social problem Inadequate resources, such as income and housing, are the problem Older people are exploited by a capitalist society with an emphasis on profits from anti-aging products, not products that meet real needs

17. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Reducing Age-Based Inequality Functionalists  Changes in families and other social institutions  Socialization of individuals to care for an increasing number of generations  More community services, such as day-care centers for children and seniors Conflict theorists  Age-based inequality is rooted in power differentials  We need continued group activism Interactionists support  The need to maintain strong relationships with others  That ethnic groups may offer active roles for older people