Functionalist Age Inequalities

Question 1

What are the 4 explanations for age inequalities

Answer 1

1. Age inequality for the elderly has to occur to allow younger generations to take control of the family
2. Age inequality for the elderly has to occur to allow younger generations to be productive at work
3. Age inequality for the young has to occur to allow young people to cope with the challenges of adult life
4. Age inequalities are the result of anomie

Question 2

Who said age inequality for the elderly has to occur to allow younger generations to take control of the family?

Answer 2

Parsons

Question 3

Expand on how age inequality for the elderly has to occur to allow younger generations to take control of the family

Answer 3

Old people can disengage from their central role in the family to allow space for their children to raise their own families

Question 4

Who said age inequality for the elderly has to focus to allow younger generations to be productive at work?

Answer 4

Cumming and Henry

Question 5

Expand on how age inequality for the elderly has to occur to allow younger generations to be productive at work

Answer 5

The way society treats old people has positive benefits for society. Process of social disengagement allows younger generation to take their place in the labour market with minimum disruption

Question 6

Who said age inequalities for the young has to occur to allow young people to cope with the challenges of adult life?

Answer 6

Eisenstadt

Question 7

Expand on how age inequalities for the young has to occur to allow young people to cope with the challenges of adult life

Answer 7

Adolescence as a stage for developing independence and youths need to go from the ascribed status of a child to achieved status of individual adult. Claimed breaking away from the family home is difficult and stressful and that youths face an element of inequality however this is necessary

Question 8

Who said age inequalities are the result of anomie?

Answer 8

Durkheim

Question 9

Expand on how age inequalities are the result of anomie

Answer 9

Young and old people’s tendencies to remove themselves from social life is due to them experiencing anomie and no longer knowing what their role is in society