Conclusion

Question 1

In concluding on Age Identities Bradley in 1995 made the following claim.

Answer 1

Bradley (1995) - Age is often a passive, individual identity.
This is because:
1. It is a temporary identity
2. The most powerful group is in the middle, and the young and the old have little in common with one another

However, there are some examples of age becoming a more active, and even politicised, identity
• e.g. the ‘right to party’ campaign against the Criminal Justice Bill in the 1990s
• e.g. the Grey Panthers in America campaigning for the rights of the elderly
• e.g. student riots in face of increased university tuition

This may become increasingly true as the politicised generation of the 1960s and 70s reaches retirement age.

Question 2

In concluding on Age Identities Marsh and Keating in 2006 stated what?

Answer 2

Marsh & Keating (2006) - It is also important to remember that age is experienced differently according to gender, social class and also ethnicity and these must be examined at the same time as age as an identity.

Question 3

Is age still an important source of identity?

Yes

Many items

Answer 3

Social constructionism of childhood (Aries)
Creation and extension of childhood
Laws to protect based on age (Children’s Act etc)
Youth cultures: Functionalism (Parsons), Neo-Marxism (Hebdige), Feminism (McRobbie & Garber, Lincoln, Hollands)
Rise of active ageing - Third Age (Laslett, Marhankova)
Stigmatisation: Goffman - Interactionism
Age discrimination: Johnson & Bytheway
Workplace: Ginn & Garber, Bradley
Media - Sontag: Double standard of ageing – women TV presenters.
Interactionism – Role of the media, labelling, master status
Peer groups, media, family, education all important in creating age-appropriate behaviours

Question 4

Is age still an important source of identity?

No it isn’t / Less Important

Many items

Answer 4

Decline in stigmatisation and ageism
Rise in fragmented identities around gender, ethnicity, sexuality rather than age
Class is a much more significant source of identity (Marxism)
Bradley: Age is often a passive identity because it is temporary and lack of common experience in childhood and old age
Marsh & Keating: Identity is experienced differently according to gender, ethnicity and class – for some it is important for others it is not.
Postmodernism: Age identities have changed and have become less significant
Thornton (PM): Youth subcultures have been replaced with media-generated taste-based club and music cultures.
Bennett (PM): Rather than seeing youth cultures – better to see the cultural activities as neo-tribalism – not fixed on youth, but through consumption choices.