Functionalist Theory Of Age Inequality

Question 1

What are the four explanations of age inequality?

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

What did parsons say?

Answer 3

• society is in agreement over social roles and the reduced roles attached to old age are necessary for social stability
• old people 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 occur to allow younger generations to be productive at work?

Answer 4

• Cumming and Henry

Question 5

What did Cumming and Henry say?

Answer 5

-

Question 6

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

Answer 6

• Eisenstadt

Question 7

What did Eisenstadt say?

Answer 7

• saw adolescence as a stage for developing independence
• youths need to go from ascribed status of a child to achieved status of individual adult
• breaking away from family home is difficult and emotionally stressful and youths face an element of inequality but it is necessary

Question 8

Who said age inequalities are the result of anomie?

Answer 8

• Durkheim

Question 9

What did Durkheim say?

Answer 9

• RCPCH found suicide is one of the leading causes of death in children and young people
• evidence to support both young people 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 supposed to be in society