Age Flashcards
how is age shown in family
old age as a social problem
younger members learn their lack of stauts within family
how is age shown in the education system
hidden curriculum- old age aas teachers
learn as children we must follow orders an respect the older
how is age shown in the peer group
peer group pressure is key in influencing norms and values of young people
how is age shown in religion
religion is declining among young people
elderly are more religious
how is age shown in the media
represents age catagories in stereotypical ways
youth= troublesome
middle age= time of crisis
old= dependancy and loneliness
what is invisible elderly and how is it shown
when the elderly are seen as invisible
under representated by the media and when they are shown they fit stereotypes
how is age shown in the workplace
young workers are uner payed nd given less status
age of retirement - deemed incapable to work
how is age shown in biology
different age groups have different behaviours
elderly less likely to take on manual tasks due to physical limitations
age is …. constructed
socially
give some examples on how old age is socially constructed
currently is at retirement age (65-68)
changed as life expectancy went up
used to be (40-43)
not a great alot of status or respect in Britain because work is the major source of status
what is agesim
refers to stereotypes, pejudice and discrimination against individuals or groups based on age
how does agesim occur in society
often institutionalised - embedded in organisations and law
expressed through everyday prejudices that affect how we interact with elderly
can inolve the assumption that the very old are vulnerable and depend on younger adults for care
what is the evaluation point for agesim
active ageing
what is active ageing and give examples
breaking the traditional norms and values of an age group
eg engaging in more activities
life long learners
choosing to stay in work
how many sociological theories are there of age
5
what is the disengagement theory for age (functionalists)
progressive withdrawl of elderly from all aspects of social life reflects oneset of their ultimate disengagment
1 disengagement form general involvement with society - retirement
2 disengaging from individuals - talking to them less
3 with death ccurs it doesnt distrupt society
what is a critisim of the disengagement theory of age (functionalists)
allows for discrimination and it forces disengagement - deterministic
what is the social generational theory of age
elderly are different to everyone else
have experiences rooted in values of the past
‘immigrants in time’
create culture seperation between past and present
what is the elvaluation point of the social generational theory
acive ageing: not all elderly are seperate
norms and values can match youths
what is the activity theory of age (functionalists)
elderly learn the role of ‘being old’
roles eg grandparents
positive view on growing up to fit into roles to benefit all
what is the evaluation point of the activity theory of age (functionalists)
exchange theory: elderly lose ability to socially exchange with others in oder to fit the elderly role = disengagement
not just social ut econmc aswell
what is the political economic theory of ageing (marxists)
elderly are denied access to social resourcs that status depends on (income)
removed from work force as are more unproductive workers (benefits ruling class)
elderly become dependant as denied access to social resources
what is the postmodernist view/ theory towards ageing
attitudes to elderly are changing - portrayed in magazines as more youthful
mask ages - cosmetic surgery allows you to create your own identity - not restricted by age
what did Aires say about youth and childhood
in medievil times childhood didnt exist
what is helicopter parenting
monotering children constantly and protecting all the time- excessively
give examples on how youth is socially constructed through laws
child labout laws
legal drinking age
technological ‘parental control’
name a study which uses a ritual in order from someone to pass from a child to an adult
satere - mawe tribe = right of passage by putting hands into golves full of bullet ants for 10 minutes, 20 times
why are young people more likely to join subcultures
as it is the time for exploration and making their own identity
what is the postmodernists perspective of youth
young people joined to deal with stress of adulthood
they do not join subcultures they join neo-tribes
what are neo-tribes
groups that young people join
you are not restircted to one fixed subcultures norms and values
it an be temporary and can be apart of multiple
what is the feminist perspective on youth
there is a malestream in youth subcultures when research focuses on masculine perspective
McRobbie: most subcultures dominated by boys because girls youth identity is more likely to be controlled by parents over their conserns about safety -encourages girls to be apart of a bedroom culture
what is the evaluation point for feminists
modern girls doing more subcultures the same as men (Ladettes) - gain more freedom
what is the functionalist perspective on youth
Parsons: one youth culture provides bridge between childhood and adulthood
detatch from family whilst achieving own status
Eisenstadt= youth culture is coping mechanism for suffering from status frustration
youth culture creates social solidarity for young
what is the marxist perspective of youth
youth subcultures according to class to form resistance to capitalism
culture create own clothes and not buying into consumer culture - less profit for ruling clas
eg Bricolage = using safety pins for clothing
subcultures offer magic solution to frustration that working class feel
youth believe they are resisting capitalism but in reality arent making much difference
