Age and Inequality Flashcards
Describe the three stages in a life course.
Early years: childhood and adolescence; dependency and subordination to adult parents or other authority figures. Adulthood: middling ones in their prime. Third age: old age after retirement, elder years.
What is ageism?
Discrimination, prejudice or subordination based on chronological age. Commonly speaking, it refers to that against the elderly, but it can also be against young people.
There is a double standard for men and women, and that women age faster than men. Why?
Women are said to age faster because they are defined in terms of beauty and attractiveness. Men on the other hand are defined in terms of power, wealth and prestige.
What is age strata?
Similar aged individuals based on chronological age, or biological, psychological or social stage of development. Also refers to a point or stage in an individual life course. An individual goes through multiple age strata.
What is cohort?
A group of people that share experiences of common historical events.
Explain the age stratification theory.
Age based inequalities are functional. At each stage of life course, individuals face similar rewards, sanctions and expectations related to their social role.
What is the age stratification theory in relation to functionalist analysis.
Based on social institutions (structures) and social roles. Aging is a bio-psychological process of allocation. In each new social role, individuals are socialized to fulfill their role in a functional manner.
Each age stratum does not have its own set of age norms. True or false?
False. Each has to have its own to determine appropriate behavior.
What is the political economy of aging?
Critical analysis (social conflict) and some symbolic interactionism. Age structure serves the interest of the privileged middling ones. Limits opportunities of young and old.
Explain some components of the political economy of aging?
The state serves the interests of capitalism. Youth is encouraged to pursue their education and accept low-paid jobs as a mean to exclude them from well paid jobs. State controls distribution of wealth.
What is a life course?
It is defined as a sequence of socially defined events and roles that an individual enacts over time.
