Changes to Old Age Flashcards
What do Marxists believe about the changes to old age?
Marxists believe older people are regarded as a burden on society. This is what they call structured dependency, older people are no use to the labour market therefore this means they are seen as “dispensable”
What do Postmodern sociologists believe about the experiences of older people?
More common for older people to be economically active, because of the rise of service based jobs from deindustrialisation..
The rise on individualism means older people aren’t required to conform to a particular image, products and services make people able to shape their identity.
What 3 issues do older people still face today?
- inequalities continue to exist
- older people suffer discrimination
- mistreatment from public services
Explain the inequalities that continue to exist between older people?
1) class inequalities, working class older people are more likely to suffer health conditions.
2) gender inequalities, older women are subject to discrimination. Feminists argue society has a tendency to objectify women. This does not happen to older women as they are no longer “pleasing to the eye”
Explain the discrimination old people face?
If older people wish to remain economically active, they are often overlooked for employment opportunities. Becoming problematic as the govt increases retirement age, ma struggle then to secure a pension.
Financially discriminated against, insurance for example of more expensive for old people
Social discrimination. Older people are often targeted by criminals as they are perceived as vulnerable
Explain how older people are often mistreated by public services?
Age UK found that older people often have a “do not resuscitate” by them meaning in the event of cardiac arrest they are not helped. Age UK claims this is clear discrimination based on age.
Elderly patients are often also denied treatments such as heart surgery.
Abusive care staff too
