Is Old Age a Social Construct? “Old Age” can be used to describe people across a 40 year age spectrum.
It could be argued that like childhood the experience of old age is a
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women construct i.e. related to historical period, local culture, national culture, social
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women , ethnic group etc.
As sociologists we must certainly question the notion that old age is just a biological state.
The Sociological Study of Old Age is becoming more important There are three reasons for this:
1. The numbers of elderly people are
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women as life expectancy has risen; nutrition has improved as have
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women care and living standards. As a result nearly 20% of the population is 65+ compared to less than 15% in 1995 and less than 5% in 1850.
2. There are
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women differences in how Old Age is experienced
In traditional societies old age is often
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women . In modern societies however the opposite is true and old people are frequently excluded from large areas of social life such as work through enforced
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women . This frequently comes with a loss of
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women and decline in living standards.
Modern society frequently creates negative
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women of what it is to be old - this is called
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women 3. Poverty
Nearly 50% of those people claiming benefits in the UK are elderly. The costs of the State looking after the elderly has resulted in some social
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women aimed at getting families to take more responsibility for their older members.
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women care initiatives such as this tend to affect the poorest social
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women the most as they cannot afford private care for their older relatives and could lead to a growth in the numbers of working class
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women families. The burden within families for caring for the elderly is most likely to fall on
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women which may limit their opportunities in employment and reinforce patriarchical assumptions about their traditional
ageism class classes Community cultural extended medical policies retirement rising role social status stereotypes venerated women .
Discussion points 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of making people retire at 60 or 65?
2. Are old people negatively stereotyped in the media and in society generally? Can you think of any examples from TV or the media?
3. Why might working class women be disadvantaged by social policies designed to reduce the elderly's dependence on the state?