Age Inequality Flashcards
Phillipson (Marxism)
Capitalism needs to renew its workforce to make sure there is profit by using young, productive workers
The elderly are made to retire so the needs of the economy are then met
The elderly then become dependent on society as they are denied access to work which lowers their status
Gramsci (neo-marxism)
The rich maintain authority, referring to ‘false consciousness’, as people do not realise their exploitation through the money they receive such as child benefits and pensions
They create a form of dependency and the elderly and young keep accepting things like zero hour contracts
Cummings & Henry (functionalism)
A person’s abilities are likely to deteriorate as they age, so there is a mutual need (for society and the individual) for the individual to be relieved of some of their responsibilities and roles
These roles must be fulfilled for social stability to be maintained
Example: having a retirement age, allows a managed disengagement, allowing others to take on roles the elderly can no longer fulfil
Parsons (functionalism)
Focuses on how inequality can be the ‘victims fault’
The elderly and the young face inequality because they do not have the necessary skills that others have
Example: young people are paid less as they do not have the work experience, therefore they deserve less money due to having fewer skills and less experience
This view is spported by the New Right
The New Right claim inequality is a result of cultural causes
Example: blaming youth unemployment on a generation by calling them lazy and unskilled
J.B. Priestly (postmodernism)
For him, ageing was like someone had kidnapped him and made him old, yet behind his appearance he had the same thoughts as when he was younger
These ideas have been seem as similar to wearing a mask: one thing on the outside, another on the inside
This shows the inequalities faced by the elderly are more to do with labelling than ageing
