Demography - Ageism, Modernity and Postmodernity

Question 1

What is ageism?

Answer 1

The negative stereotyping of people based on their age.

Question 2

What is ageism a consequence of?

Answer 2

An ageing population.

Question 3

How is old age viewed in modern society?

Answer 3

Identities and status’ based on our role in production =

• old people are excluded from production.
• so they have a dependent status and a stigmatised identity.

Question 4

How is life structured in modern society?

Answer 4

On fixed stages (youth, adult, old, etc).

• people generate age-related identities; pupil, worker, pensioner.
• old are excluded and become dependent.

Question 5

How is the ‘fixed life stages’ of modern societies different in postmodern societies?

Answer 5

They are broken down =

• e.g. children dressing as adults, late marriage, early retirement, etc.

Question 6

How are our identities different in postmodern societies to modern societies?

Answer 6

Consumption is key to our identities, not production.

• we define ourselves by what we consume.

Question 7

What does Hunt (2005) argue about identities in postmodern societies?

Answer 7

Due to greater choice, we can choose our identities regardless of our age.

Question 8

What is the impact from greater choice in postmodern societies?

Answer 8

• They become central to consumerism (e.g. markets aimed at them).
• This includes; anti-ageism products, gym memberships and cosmetic surgery.

Question 9

How is old age stigmatised in postmodern societies?

Answer 9

1). Products aimed to reduce appearances of old age

Question 10

How does postmodern societies undermine the idea that old age is a stigmatised life stage?

Answer 10

1). Media =

portray positive lifestyles of the elderly.

2). Products =

allow the old to ‘write new identities’.

Question 11

What does Pilcher (1995) argue about inequalities among the old?

Answer 11

Such as class and gender =

• based on their previous occupation.

Question 12

What are the class inequalities among the old?

Answer 12

M/C =

• greater pension, savings from higher salaries.
• can remain looking young.

W/C =

• lower salaries = lower life expectancy and less able to maintain youthful self-identy.

Question 13

What are the gender inequalities among the old?

Answer 13

Women =

• lower pensions from having a lower paid job.
• subject to sexist (“old hags”) and ageist stereotypes.

Question 14

What is the percentage of people suffering age discrimination?

Answer 14

Age Concern (2004) =

29%.

Question 15

Criticise the postmodernist view?

Answer 15

They understate the importance of these inequalities.

• they are structural issues and they play a major part in shaping the experience of old people.