1. Inequality Based on Age
Chapter 5
Inequality Based on Age

2. Ageism and the Life Course
Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against people on the basis of age
Marginalizes older people
Social Gerontology: study of the social aspects of aging
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

3. The Life Course Childhood: Adolescence
Infants: Birth to age 2; Children: Age 3 to 12
Most powerless individuals in society
Adolescence
New concept in 20th century
Hard to define particular age range
Caught in between children and adulthood
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. The Life Course Young Adulthood: Middle Age:
Early to mid 20’s until about age 39; Acquisition of new roles; New freedom
Middle Age:
Age 40 to about 60/65
Experience senescence (physical changes) and secondary aging (environmental factors)
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

5. The Life Course Later Maturity Old Age:
Begins in 60’s; Peer groups shrink
May care for others their age or older
Old Age:
Begins in late 60’s or 70’s
Generally out of paid employment
Increase in likelihood of medical conditions
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

6. Life Expectancy Life Expectancy: Age categories:
Average length of time a group of individuals will live.
Age categories:
Young old: years old; Old Old: 75-84
Oldest Old: 85+: Fastest growing group in US
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

7. Figure 5.1 U.S. age pyramid by age and sex, 1970 and 2010.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010.
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

8. Figure 5.2 U.S. Population Growth
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

9. Stage-based Approach
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross says there are 5 stages in the dying process:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining and asking for divine intervention
Depression
Acceptance
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

10. Dying Trajectory
Not everyone moves toward death at the same speed and in the same way
Trajectories can be:
Sudden (heart attack); Slow (lung cancer)
3 Phases:
Acute phase; Chronic phase; Terminal phase
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

11. Task-Based Approach
Daily activities can still be enjoyed during dying process
Fulfilling tasks makes it easier on all involved
3 main types of tasks:
Physical tasks; Psychological tasks; Spiritual tasks
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

12. Problems Associated with Aging
Workplace discrimination:
Age Discrimination in Employment Act 1967
Protects workers age 45 and up
Retirement:
Separation of an individual from occupation
Compulsory retirement laws less common
Differs for racial groups (white advantage)
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

13. Problems Associated with Aging
Health, Illness, and Health Care:
Older people healthier today
Malnutrition big problem for elderly
Most eligible for Medicare
Victimization:
Less likely to be victims of violent crime
Targets of scams; Experience elder abuse
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Problems Associated with Aging
Family Problems and Social Isolation:
Become socially isolated from their families
Many elderly live alone
Housing patterns:
Whites, those 85+, and females are more likely
Women more likely to live alone
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

15. Perspectives on Aging Functionalist:
Older people should detach themselves from society:
For healthy adjustment and stability of society
Disengagement theory:
Older people want to be released from societal expectations of productivity
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

16. Perspectives on Aging Interactionist:
Focus on relationship between life satisfaction and level of activity
Activity Theory:
Older people happier/better adjusted if are active
Shift gears later in life to find meaningful substitutes for previous activities.
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

17. Perspectives on Aging Conflict:
Some older people have inadequate resources in society
People who are disadvantaged in younger years become more so in older years
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

18. Solutions to Age Inequality
Technology might bring more freedom for older people
Dependency ratio
Functionalists suggest changes in families and other social institutions
Interactionists suggestion maintaining strong relationships
© Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.