Age Inequality (20)

Question 1

Two Areas of life where there is evidence of Age Inequality

Answer 1

Income and Employment

Health

Question 2

Income and Employment Example One

Answer 2

Research conducted by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (2015) Found the Average pay had fallen over the last decade but most sharply for YA at 22%

Question 3

Income and Employment Example One Explanation

Answer 3

New Right Sociologists would argue that this disparity is justified. As they are less skilled so are paid less. Claim the existence of the Welfare State means them is no incentive to work or work harder to obtain higher financial rewards. Needs are met by the state. Parental support.
Murray argued excessive government intervention to try and alleviate poverty by providing benefits has led to a dependency culture whereby groups such as the unemployed and lone parents were rewarded for irresponsible behaviour. (Not looking for work or kids outside of marriage)

Question 4

Income and Employment Example Two

Answer 4

Age UK Report: Money Matters (2017)
One-third of over 65s are worried about money as well as 30% worried about paying for food. A further 40% are worried about heating their homes.

Question 5

Income and Employment Example Two Explanation

Answer 5

Philipson claims that the hardships experienced by older people is the Price of Capitalism.  Ageing means that people lose according to Marxists their labour power as they are no longer able to serve Capitalism.
Capitalism structured society so the drains to society and problem groups like Older people suffer the consequences of not being able to contribute.
Forcing workers to accept the system but by developing ideological state apparatuses (ISAs), which transmit ideas that legitimate or justify the capitalist system and its class inequalities.

Question 6

Health Example One

Answer 6

Old Age Faculty of Royal College of Psychiatrists (2016)

22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 and older developed depression and 88% of those did not seek help for it.

Question 7

Health Example One Explanation

Answer 7

Tied to Labelling Theory. Media portrayal of ageing is to blame for worsening the Mental Health of the Elderly. Media portrays them as ill, unproductive and that life is a downward spiral as soon as you start to age. Causing Anxiety and Depression over the ageing process leaving them suspectable to mental health issues.
The Mental Health Foundation found that older people believe improving the image of the ageing process in the media would improve mental health rates.

Question 8

Health Example Two

Answer 8

ONS Continous Mortality Investigation (2017)
Found life expectancy has gone down since 2013. In 2013 a 65-year-old man was expected to live 22.8 more years compared to 2017 were they only expected to live a further 22.2.
For women, it dropped from 25 to 24 in the same timeframe.

Question 9

Health Example Two Explanation

Answer 9

Graham says the ageing process is gendered because of the disparity.
Women live longer but are more likely to experience poverty hence the higher drop in life expectancy. And unlike men, they don’t have the means to support themselves. Due to societal family pressures of women having to have children their work are interrupted resulting in little to no pension to support themselves.
Itzin claimed that women face a double standard. Men’s status is directly related to employment, whereas women’s status is linked to their reproductive cycle. In a patriarchal society, women’s status devalues after childbearing age. Put simply, older women, regardless of wealth and background, have a lower status.