Age and Inequality

Question 1

What does Bradley say?

Answer 1

Pensioners are one of the largest groups making up the poor

Question 2

Which % of pensioners live in povery?

Answer 2

11% in severe poverty, 21% in relative poverty

Question 3

What is Oppenheim and Harker’s theory?

Answer 3

Feminisation of poverty:
Full time workers - 73% of males have private pensions compared to 68% of females, but only 21% of part time women have private pensiosn

Question 4

What does Davidson say about women’s careers

Answer 4

More likely to be interrupted by periods of part time work (due to family commitments/childrearing); this leads to an increased risk of poverty in retirement. Particularly bad fro EM women who suffer racial, age and gender discrimination as pensioners

Question 5

What is Ray et al.’s theory about retirement age?

Answer 5

It differs depending on status; higher class workers may be able to resist forced retirement or choose to retire early, whereas lower status workers may be forced into mandatory retirement or forced to continue working to supplement insufficient pensions

Question 6

What does Bytheway say about ageism?

Answer 6

It is based on 3 things: stereotypical prejudices, institutional discrimination, and well meaning but harmful assumptions

Question 7

What does Grant say about ageism?

Answer 7

It is experienced by females at work

Question 8

When were age discrimination laws introduced?

Answer 8

2006, modified and extended in 2010

Question 9

What does Boycott say about older women and work?

Answer 9

Older women are 2x more likely to be out of work than older men

Question 10

What does Midgely et al theorise about younger people?

Answer 10

Younger people in rural areas lack opportunities and are more likely to be NEET compared to those in cities

Question 11

What is the unemployment rate for under 25s relative to older people?

Answer 11

ONS (2005) - 10% higher unemployment for under-25s, this is doubled if only Black youths considered

Question 12

What does Bulman say about work?

Answer 12

Young people are often on the minimum wage in jobs with the worst pay and conditions - 2/3 of McDonalds workers are under 20

Question 13

What does Bynner suggest?

Answer 13

Transitions to adulthood differ based on class backgrounds - m/c and u/c people have a slower transition due to university, whereas some w/c girls see parenthood as a way of gaining status but are disadvantaged by this as it causes a rapid transition (eg no education). This leads to a polarization of experience between rich and poor

Question 14

What does Greengross suggest about the NHS?

Answer 14

The NHS is institutionally ageist; older people are denied treatment/access to clinical trials

Question 15

What does Henretta say?

Answer 15

A ‘sandwich generation’ of women are stuck between caring for their elderly parents and their children/grandchildren

Question 16

Which % of abuse of the elderly happens in their own homes?

Answer 16

67% of abuse against the elderly happens in their own homes

Question 17

What does Arber suggest causes health problems in older men?

Answer 17

They delay going to the doctor; they also have bad lifestyles (eg poor diet, smoking, alcohol) - both lead to more health problems

Question 18

What does Ray suggest about elderly health care?

Answer 18

Although age-differentiated policies (eg free prescriptions) are intended to help, they actually reinforce the stereotype that the elderly are ill and frail

Question 19

What does Featherstone suggest (media)?

Answer 19

Birthday cards portray the ageing process as negative

Question 20

What did Boycott find in her media content analysis?

Answer 20

Youth is used to sell products; there is a ‘double standard’ of men vs women in the media

Question 21

What did Biggs suggest (media)?

Answer 21

Old people are portrayed in the media as ‘grumpy…in poor health’

Question 22

What did Newman say (media)?

Answer 22

Social class and age are linked in media portrayals - higher class people maintain their status despite their age, whereas working class/underclass people do not

Question 23

What did Sontag say?

Answer 23

There is a ‘double standard’ in media - older presenters of TV are allowed to continue whereas women tend to disappear after 40

Question 24

Which BBC presenter argued that her dismissal was ageist?

Answer 24

Anna Ford

Question 25

What does Carrigan say about advertising?

Answer 25

Advertising either dismisses or stigmatises the elderly

Question 26

Which advertising campaign portrayed the elderly in a positive way?

Answer 26

Dove’s Real Beauty campaign - however Marxists would suggest that this is driven by capitalist greed and persuit of the ‘grey power’

Question 27

What did Wayne find in his content analysis?

Answer 27

82% of articles about crime portrayed young people as a danger to society

Question 28

Which moral panic did Fawbert study?

Answer 28

Teenagers and hoodies

Question 29

Which moral panic did Hall study?

Answer 29

Black youths

Question 30

What did Lea and Young’s Islington Crime Survey find?

Answer 30

The elderly fear crime more (especially in low income areas); young people are much more likely to be victims

Question 31

What did the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggest about victimisation?

Answer 31

Membership of a gang highly increases the risk of victimisation - most gang members are 13-17

Question 32

What did the BCS suggest about victimisation?

Answer 32

Young males are the most likely to be victims

Question 33

What did the Islington Crime Survey suggest about victimisation?

Answer 33

Young females are the most likely to be victims of crime

Question 34

What is one reason that crime is underreported by the very young and very old?

Answer 34

They may not realise that they are victims (eg of abuse)

Question 35

What % of crime is committed by young people according to the OCS?

Answer 35

50%

Question 36

What does Cicourel suggest about the police?

Answer 36

They hold stereotypes of offenders as youths - this may artificially inflate youth crime stats as they are more likely to be targeted

Question 37

What does Hirschi suggest causes higher crime among youths?

Answer 37

They are less likely to have bonds of attachment

Question 38

What does Henretta say about crimes against the elderly?

Answer 38

67% happen in their own homes - low visibility and less likely to be prosecuted