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Theories of Age - Coggle Diagram
Theories of Age
Postmodernism
Pilcher argues that differences between age groups are blurring. Elderly are becoming less fixed, less constraining, less orderly.
Today, older people behave in a manner once seen as the domain of the young.
As we move to a post-industrial economy, the different phases of life course have become less clear.
Due to the aging population, the age at which people consider themselves 'old' is increasing. Therefore, chronological age is no longer shaping people's life experiences in the same way.
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Older people are becoming more 'tech savvy' and therefore are able to engage with new technologies in the same way as other age groups.
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Older people keep themselves youthful and younger people are encouraged to act older than what they are by the media.
Blaikie (1999) suggest consumer culture has allowed stereotypes of age to be challenged and changed, with older age becoming less stigmatised, and a wider variety of items and lifestyles to be accessed.
Feminism
Females tend to live longer on average but are more likely to experience poverty and downward mobility in old age.
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In other societies, women's status traditionally increased as they got older.
Wolfe (liberal feminist) argues that older women have to try and retain their sexual attractiveness by remaining young in order to be treated as equals to men in older age.
Gannon (liberal feminist) argues that menopause is medicalised in society, which means women may face discrimination in employment.
Functionalism
Aging is inevitable and a positive process that serves a function for society and individuals (consensus and stability).
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Parsons, aging is the inevitable transitional phase between different stages. Also age-groups provide role sets that create a link between the kinship group and the wider society.
Eisenstadt (1956) generational groups contribute to cohesion and solidarity as they enable individuals to acquire new social roles through socialisation.
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Cummings and Henry (1961) 'Disengagement Theory' the way society treats the old has positive benefits for society. The elderly either by voluntary choice or legal compulsion, are encouraged to abandon their occupational roles within the specialised division of labour. The implication being, the aging process inevitably leads to social incompetence.
Ignore the intersectionality of age with gender, ethnicity and social class. Also ignores inequalities of age.
The New Right
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Some people better prepare themselves for old age, the one that don't are causing an aging population to be a problem.
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In 2017, the FCA found that 31% of UK adults have no private pension and will rely entirely on the state in their retirement (£185.15 a week).
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Marxism
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Althusser (1971) (neo-Marxist) welfare payments given to the young and old are tools used by capitalism to maintain false class consciousness. The most vulnerable in these groups don't feel the full force of exploitation preventing any kind of revolutionary action. These benefits form a part of the ideological state apparatus.
Philipson (1982) (neo-Marxist) capitalism views the elderly as a burden on society, as old people lose their status, they become a drain on the economy. State pensions are inadequate and leave the elderly reliant on state welfare, reinforcing low status as they are reliant on state handouts.
Doesn't account the value the elderly have aside from paid work, such as in the family.
Representation of elderly in the media contributes to labelling and the self-fulfilling prophecy. Leading to them being 'talked down to' especially when they are being looked after, creating a 'downward spiral', with a loss of independence and capabilities.
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