Age Inequality: Theories Flashcards
Functionalism (Talcott Parsons) & The New Right
The elderly and the young face inequality because they do not have the necessary skills that others have
e.g. 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
The New Right claim inequality is a result of cultural causes
e.g. blaming youth unemployment on a generation by calling them lazy and unskilled
Functionalism: Disengagement Theory (Cummings & Henry)
Cummings and Henry (1961) use this theory to explain that age inequality starts with the idea that all people die
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
Evaluation: Disengagement Theory
Not all elderly people deteriorate at the same age, or at all
These views are very optimistic and ignore the negative experience of ageing
Not all elderly people can take on a new role and stay happy and fulfilled
Not all youth will be successfully guided by the agents of socialisation
They may not leave deviant behaviour behind
Marxism: Reserve Army of Labour
Secondary source of labour and can be the young and the elderly, as the groups can be used at boom times or for flexible labour
There is a growing market of zero-hour contracts where employees are only given work when it is available, but have to be free to work regardless
This tends to be the unemployed youth or the elderly This shows age inequality is a social construction which benefits the rich and powerful
Evaluation: Marxism
Ignore that ageing does not always happen at the same rate for everyone
The studies take a macro approach, ignoring factors such as gender, nationality, disability and wealth
With an ageing population there has been a growth of the ‘grey pound’, with elderly becoming an asset to the economy and the rich, rather than a burden
Feminism: Arber and Gin (1991)
Said that factors such as age affect a woman’s status and power
They said that older women face inequalities that older men do not
Women feel immense pressure to fight the signs of ageing, which is capitalised on by many cosmetic industries, while ageing men do not seem to feel the pressure
Women are seen to have to comply with certain physical standards, but no expectations are placed on men
Evaluation: Feminism
Feminists blame inequality on patriarchy, meaning they can miss the true causes, such as poverty
Not all women experience the same life chances as factors, such as wealth and social class, greatly impact on women
Males are also going through pressure to look young
