Age Inequality Flashcards
Age uk 2021 (economic inequalities)
Economic inequalities
. Define living in poverty as when resources are not enough to meet their basic needs and allow the to take part in society
. 2.1 million pensioners (18%) live in poverty
. Risen since 2013-14 when 1.6 million (14%) lived in poverty
. 38%of private tenants/ 36% of social sector rented tenants
. 33% of Asian British & 30% of black British are in poverty compared to 16% of white pensioners.
. Provide incomes sufficient enough to cover basic needs and everyone would have opportunities to build up additional private incomes which would allow comfortable retirement
Explanation of age uk (economic inequalities)
Marxists argue that there are economic inequality’s for pensioners because the capitalist system creates an unequal society through exploitation of the WC by ruling elite. Experience high rates of poverty because they are no longer useful to the capitalist system. Philipson argues that capitalism views the elderly as a burden on society and older people lose status as they become a drain on the economy. He suggests state pensions are insufficient and leave the elderly reliant on the welfare state ( unless they could afford state pensions ). This reinforces there low status in society as they are dependant on handouts. Ethnic minorities are likely to live in poverty because of the institutional racism they experiences in education and the workplace which stops them being able to save for retirement.
Resolution foundation 2019 ( economic inequalities)
. Generational inequalities in the distribution and accumulation of wealth
. Young are not able to accumulate wealth at the same time rate as their parents and grandparents
. Those aged 61-70 are the wealthiest age groups and those in their 30s have the least amount of wealth.
Explanation of Resolution foundation 2019 (economic inequalities)
This is an inequality for young people because they will have to work for much longer at an older age and will be more likely to live in poverty.
Marxist explanation of reserve army of labour. Younger people are often part of this reserve army of labour. They are more likely to work in insecure and low paying jobs which don’t allow them to accumulate wealth in the same way older generations did.
Rowntree foundation (employment)
Disagrees with other reports which suggest wealth and income are the result of generational difference’s.the JRF argues that the young and old have always experienced inequalities in the labour market regardless of the generation they were born into. Young and old more likely to be in insecure employment working part time with non standard contracts and less access to training. They are also more vulnerable to unemployment than those in mid life. The market is advantage to men in mid life they are the insiders the outsiders are young/old people -secondary labour market.
Explanation of rowntree foundation
Inequality because it shows ageist attitudes toward young people and old can limit their opportunities in the workplace and limit them to insecure low status low paid work.
Neo- weberian - Barron and Norris - argue this is because young People and old people and women are likely to be in the secondary labour market.
The state of ageing
. 800000 people ages 50-65 are seeking work. Benefits of longer working lives = better individual finances, social connections and economic growth. 1/10 ages 50-65 report low job satisfaction. 1/3 report lack of control of autonomy and control at work. Older worker less likely to receive off the job training than younger workers impacting their ability to keep up to date with new skills.
The state of aging
Inequality because it shows that not only do older people find it more difficult to access employment opportunities in later life but are facing unfair treatment within their workplaces resulting in lack of autonomy and low job satisfaction. Interactionists would argue that inequalities in the workplace can be experienced by older people due to the negative labelling they experience as a group.
