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A Level Sociology > 2.2 Perspectives On Age Inequality > Flashcards

2.2 Perspectives On Age Inequality Flashcards

1
Q

(Functionalists) parsons talked about the organic analogy what did he mean by this?

A

Society like a body

All the institutions work together like organs

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2
Q

(Functionalists) what needs to be maintained in society?

A

Social stability

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3
Q

(Functionalists) to maintain social stability what do we have to do?

A

Learn our roles and fit in

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4
Q

(Functionalists) who create instability?

A

Old and young people

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5
Q

(Functionalists) what do youth subcultures find a way of?

A

Learning our roles and fitting in

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6
Q

(Functionalists) youth culture is compared to what?

A

A bridge

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7
Q

(Functionalists) youth culture is like a bridge in that we rebel and do what?

A

Try out deviant behaviour

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8
Q

(Functionalists) bridge - what is the response to our deviant behaviour?

A

We are socialised and punished

Learn how to be adults

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9
Q

(Functionalists) what did Cummings and Henry come up with?

A

Disengagement theory

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10
Q

(Functionalists) the disengagement theory says we all what?

A

Die

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11
Q

(Functionalists) disengagement- the sudden loss of someone’s roles create what?

A

Instability in society

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12
Q

(Functionalists) disengagement- as we age what happens?

A

Our ability to fulfill our roles deteriorates

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13
Q

(Functionalists) disengagement- what should we do to prevent instability?

A

Gradually let go with managed disengagement e.g. Of job role

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14
Q

(Functionalists) disengagement- what new roles might older people take on?

A

Childcare

Volunteering

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15
Q

(Functionalists) criticism - we are not all what?

A

Homogenous

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16
Q

(Functionalists) criticisms - what does it mean that we are not all homogenous?

A

We don’t all age at the same rate or experience the same inequality

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17
Q

(Functionalists) criticisms - why can functionalists be seen as too optimistic?

A

Not all old people take on new roles

Not all young people are successfully guided away from defiance

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18
Q

(Functionalists) criticisms - functionalists can be said to be blaming what?

A

The victim

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19
Q

(Functionalists) criticisms - what causes inequality?

A

The social system e.g. Low state pension or minimum wage

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20
Q

(Marxists) how do Marxists explain age inequality?

A

in terms of what capitalism needs

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21
Q

(Marxists) why are the young and old more likely to be on zero hour contracts?

A

reserve army of labour

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22
Q

(Marxists) what are young people a cheap source of?

A

labour

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23
Q

(Marxists) what do older people provide? and what effect does this have?

A

free childcare

meaning more younger workers are free to work

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24
Q

(Marxists) how are the old and the young a reserve army of labour?

A

secondary source of labour they can be hired and fired as and when needed

25
Q

(Marxists) what does Gramsci talk about?

A

legitimation of authority

26
Q

(Marxists) Gramsci says small benefits e.g. pensions, child benefit have what effect?

A

fool the young and old into accepting inequality

making them dependent on the state

27
Q

(Marxists) who does age inequality benefit?

A

capitalism

the bourgeoisie

28
Q

(Marxists) political economy says that inequality does what?

A

meets the needs of the economy

29
Q

(Marxists) Phillipson says capitalism needs to continually do what?

A

replace it’s workforce using young more productive workers to maximise profitability

30
Q

(Marxists) in order to replace workers capitalism needs a system of doing what to the elderly what?

A

institutionally marginalising them

done by making them retire so new workers take over (institutionalised dependency)

31
Q

(Marxists) as a result of institutionalised marginalisation, forced dependency takes place what is this?

A

the elderly become dependent on society as they are denied access to work

32
Q

(Marxists) Criticisms -like functionalism what do Marxists assume about all old and young people?

A

they are all the same - ignores class and gender

33
Q

(Marxists) Criticisms - Marxists ignore the growth of the grey pound what is this?

A

older consumers who are an asset to the bourgeosie

34
Q

(feminists) what did Itzin claim women face when ageing?

A

a double standard

35
Q

(feminists) Itzin - what is men’s status related to?

A

employment

36
Q

(feminists) Itzin - what is a woman’s status related to?

A

reproduction

status declines after childbearing age

37
Q

(feminists) Itzin - who have lower status?

A

older women

38
Q

(feminists) Itzin - what is cometicisation?

A

women are pressured to fight the signs of ageing e.g. surgery
men don’t face the same pressure

39
Q

(feminists) criticisms - what do feminists assume the problem is and what is the issue with this?

A

patriarchy

real issue may be poverty

40
Q

(feminists) criticisms - how does cosmeticisation not only apply to women?

A

products targeted at men to prevent ageing e.g. just for men

41
Q

(postmodernism) what did Polemus say about youth?

A

it is not homogenous it involves picking and mixing

shopping from the supermarket of style

42
Q

(postmodernism) what did Laczko and Phillipson say about wealth and early retirement?

A

mean positive ageing for many

43
Q

(postmodernism) Featherstone and Hepsworth say some people feel forced to do what?

A

wear the mask of old age

44
Q

(postmodernism) how do some resist the mask of old age?

A

cosmetic surgery
resulting to act in terms of stereotypes
exotic holidays, activities

45
Q

(postmodernism) globalisation means a multicultural society with what?

A

different attitudes to age
some cultures are gerontocratic
some treat children as precious others tolerate them believing they are immature

46
Q

(postmodernism) what are the two nations?

A 
middle class pensioners who can afford to resist the mask of old age e.g. with activities/holidays
working class who can't afford this and simply retire into the stereotypical roles
47
Q

(Weberian) what did Weber use to explain the low status of the old and young?

A

market situation

48
Q

(Weberian) when will a person suffer low status?

A

when they don’t have the skills required

49
Q

(Weberian) if an upper class person becomes elderly why do they not suffer the same loss of status?

A

they have the financial resources to live a comfortable life e.g. the queen is elderly but has status and wealth

50
Q

(Weberian) Turner - the elderly and yound become stigmatised, why?

A

they don’t have what it takes to gain high status

51
Q

(Weberian) Turner - in Western society based on consumption who is given high status? what does this mean for the old an young?

A

those with material goods

elderly and young least likely to have this

52
Q

(Weberian) in gerontocracy what is interlinked? what does this suggest?

A

power and age

age and status depends on the key values of the society

53
Q

(social action) Parkin said that some are in negatively privileged status groups what did he mean?

A

they are segregated from higher status groups - can be applied to the old and young

54
Q

(social action) Parkin - how are the elderly segregated in the media?

A

aren’t really included in the media and when they are they are portrayed stereotypically

55
Q

(social action) Parkin - how are the elderly & young segregated in employment?

A

forced to retire

zero hour contracts

56
Q

(social action) Parkin - how are the elderly segregated in living arrangements?

A

often forced into smaller homes or care homes as they age

57
Q

(social action) Havinghurst - what did he criticise?

A

functionalists disengagement theory

58
Q

(social action) what did Havinghurst say age inequality was more about?

A

interaction

if we maintain social interaction it reduces negative experiences of ageing

59
Q

(social action) interactionism - how might labelling affect young people?

A

often labelled as trouble makers affecting their treatment, which may influence their self concept and lead to a self fulfilling prophecy

A Level Sociology (90 decks)

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