Theory inequalities Age

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

YOUTH
Parsons
Elsenstadt

middle age
Parsons

old age
parson

Question 2

Parsons youth

Answer 2

Functionalism
Argues age related differences contribute to overall functioning of the social system. Differences are key for smooth functioning of society. Age strata are functional for society - Childhood socialises - Adolescence is a stage for developing independence.

Question 3

Eisenstadt

Answer 3

Functionalism
Youths’ need to go from ascribed status of child to achieved status of individual adult. Breaking away from the family home is difficult and emotionally stressful. Being part of a subculture provides a forum for the frustrations of this period and process. Suggest youth culture is inherently binding, in that shared interests with peers creates a sense of community.

Question 4

Parsons middle age

Answer 4

Functionalism

Gender roles adopted at middle age – Women = Expressive – Men = Instrumental.

Question 5

parsons old age

Answer 5

Functionalism
The elderly do have lower status/can be disengaged as they abandon some social roles and leave the younger generations to pick up roles.

Question 6

Cumming and Henry

Answer 6

Functionalism
‘Disengagement theory’ – States the process of disengagement from previous social roles is beneficial for social order (disengage from previous social roles and free up jobs for younger people)

Question 7

Marxism

Answer 7

Bond et al
Philipson
Jones
vincent

Question 8

Bond Et al

Answer 8

Marxism
Those from lower social classes are more likely to suffer poverty in old age because during their working lives their incomes are too low to save for retirement and they are less likely to have private pensions.
Government state pensions are inadequate and therefore those who are elderly and from lower social classes are discriminated against.

Question 9

Philipson

Answer 9

Marxism
The elderly are forced to retire and therefore institutionally marginalised. The elderly then become dependent on society however as they are denied access to work.

Question 10

Jones

Answer 10

Marxism
says the elderly are the new reserve army of labour as they face childcare and financial burdens to support their grandchildren.

Question 11

Weberian

Answer 11

Barron and Norris

Parkin

Question 12

Barron and Norris

Answer 12

Weberian
- Argue there is a primary and secondary labour market. Young and old age groups are more likely to be part of the secondary labour market.

Question 13

Parkin

Answer 13

Weberian
Negatively privileged status groups’. Argues that middle-age people use social closure to keep young and/or old people out of positions of authority and status.

Question 14

Postmodernism

Answer 14

Blakie
Featherstone and hepworth
Laczko and philipson
Polhemus

Question 15

Polhemus

Answer 15

Postmodernism

Due to the ‘Supermarket of Style’ youths now have more choice available to them – Youth is non-homogenous.

Question 16

Laczko and Philipson

Answer 16

postmodernism
Researched early retirement and found that inequality faced by some elderly people was due to wealth not ageing itself.

Question 17

Featherstone and Hepworth

Answer 17

Postmodernism
life course has begun to be deconstructed (broken down) – they claim two processes have taken place:
De-differentiation - the process by which the differences between different stages of the life course become less clear.
Deinstitutionalisation - the process by which the institutions of society become less closely associated with maintaining different phases of the life course.
There are constant messages from the media to ‘stay young’ and delay the process of aging, The ‘mask of aging’.

Question 18

Blakie

Answer 18

postmodernism
retired are now an important consumer group who are targeted with a range of products and services - The ‘grey £’ is valued due to the stereotypes of ageing being challenged by a number of celebrity role models. Claims that people are no longer restricted by their age but it is too soon to talk of ‘the end of old age’ as class

Question 19

Vincent

Answer 19

Marxism

age is another aspect of stratification - all members of society will pass through in life course. disadvantage is tied up with the needs of the economy.

1) inequality is specifically suffered by elderly - working class women in particular suffer discrimination- YOUNG AND OLD RESVER ARMY OF LABOUR
2) age divisions are often blamed on biological ageing - many people over 65 can not work
3) state greatly over estimate “the problem “ of an ageing population- of the state effectively resdisbution from wealthy and bussiness it could easily pay for the elderly. ageism exacerbates the problems for the elderly