Age inequalities 40 marker SI

Question 1

functionalist view on age inequalities

Answer 1

they are vital for the smooth functioning of a harmonious society

Question 2

older adults stepping away from the workplace is beneficial as they aquire new roles

functionalism

Answer 2

Henry and Cummings - disengagement theory
* abitities deteriorate with age
* young poeple must take over roles
* older generation can take new roles like childcare of grandchildren

Question 3

What did Ages the insurance company find?

functionalism

Answer 3

with 65% of grandparents careing for grandchildren for 11.5 hours a week, parents are saving £16 billion a year

Question 4

rebelious behaviour during youth is functional for society

functionalism

Answer 4

Eisenstadt - ‘safety valve’
* youth can let off steam in acceptable way
* accepted/tolerated as normal part of growing up
* can test boundaries to reinforce n&v to achieve social order

Question 5

it is understandable that young people are not given the same rights and responsibilities as adults

functionalism

Answer 5

Parsons - ‘bridge between childhood and adulthood’
* makes sense that young people are paid less in transitional period
* less experienced
* minimum wage differences do not reflect age discrimination

Question 6

some youths have different n&v to the rest of society so are more deviant

functionalism

Answer 6

Miller - ‘focal concerns’
- w/c youths have different values
- examples include: hypermasculinity, excitement
- can lead to deviance

Question 7

Murray argues that youths in the underclass have a different set of n&v to the rest of society

New Right

Answer 7

• youths not achieved appropriate soicalisation into value consensus
• n&v based on dependancy, criminality and laziness
• underclass do not want to work
• see life on benefits as positive
• single mothers to blame

Question 8

Class - Weber defined class as an individuals relationship to the means of production and their skill market situation

weberianism

Answer 8

In todays UK society, both younger and older adults may find it harder than the middle age to develop their skill in the workplace because of barriers to finding a job

Barron and Norris - dual. labour market theory

Question 9

Party - Weber used this word to describe power that can be gained through membership of certain groups

Weberianism

Answer 9

Young people are less likely to be members of these elite networks eg only 3% of MPs are under 30, which means there is little input from a young persons perspective

Question 10

Status - refers to social standing of a group or individual

weberianism

Answer 10

Turner
- older and younger poeple lack status as they lack wealth in Western societies
- but in other places such as Kenya, older people may have status due to an abundance of knowledge

Question 11

age inequalitiy benefits the smootth running of the capitalist system and allows the bourgeoisie to maximise profit

Marxism

Answer 11

Phillipson
* older workers more likely to be made redundant
* harder to explout than middle class colleagues
* older people less lilkely to have mortgages to pay off or children to support
* so they may be less willing to work extra hours

Question 12

Young people facing inequality in the workplace benefits the ruling class

Marxism

Answer 12

cheap labour source for minimum wage and as 11% are unemployed so they are a useful army reserve labour

Question 13

young and old do not realise they are being exploited because of a false consciousness

Marxism

Answer 13

Althusser - ISA and SA
* ISA eg media, socialises in to accepting that inequalities are fair and natural when they are not
* duped into believing lower minimum wage based on age is unfair

Gramski
- bourgeoisie used cultural and political means ti convinve the w/c that the government was on their side rather than exploit them
- eg state pensions convice elderly that the government is an essential source of support

Question 14

w/c youths may be more likely to engage in deviant behaviour as a resistance to capitalism

Marxism

Answer 14

Hebdige - the smart style of the mods and their aggression towards their rivals the rockers was an expression for their desire for middle class status and resistance against capitalism, which gave them no opportunities for social mobility

Question 15

due to a patriarchal society, older women face inequalities that older men do not, so age inequality has a more negative impact on women than men

feminism

Answer 15

Itzin
- mens status linked to employment
- womens status linked to reproduction
- patriarchy devalue menopausal women
- women judged more on appearance ao are aslo under pressure to reduce signs of ageing

Older women tend to be marginalised eg Maggie Gyllenhall aged 35 was said to be too old to play a 55 year olds love interest