Module 2

Question 1

What is intersectionality?

Answer 1

Describes interactions of systems of inequality, power based systems, and life chances. Differences in experiences of marginalized populations. Disadvantage changes as one moves into later age

Question 2

What is the basis of the modernization hypothesis?

Answer 2

Shift from agricultural systems to industrialized economies, and how this changed the status of elders.

Question 3

What 2 kinds of societies existed during the pre industrial revolution?

Answer 3

Hunting and Gathering, and Egrarian.

Question 4

What was the status of elders in hunting and gathering societies?

Answer 4

Elders were a valuable source of knowledge and held power and influence.

Question 5

What was the status of elders in Egrarian societies?

Answer 5

Oldest citizens controlled the land, were family heads, and had the most knowledge about survival, animal care, crops, rituals, and laws.

Question 6

What happened to the status of elders during the industrial revolution?

Answer 6

Shift from rural to urban living, knowledge of elders was no longer needed as we began to get knowledge from technology. The young become knowledgeable, old aren’t needed.

Question 7

What are the 6 reasons why the modernization hypothesis is criticized, and why there is more to the theory?

Answer 7

1) There is considerable heterogeneity in status decline after modernisation- not all places modernised
2) In some pre-industrial societies, status of older people was already lower
3) Continued high status of older people in societies to some degree
4) Alternative reasons for status change in family structure
5) Regional diversity in a felt need to honour and care for one’s parents
6) Other intersecting factors.

Question 8

What influences the diversity in aging?

Answer 8

Social, biological, gender, ethnicity, employment history, etc. Different experiences based on demographics. Social aspects of ageing are not universal.

Question 9

Are aspects of biological aging considered universal or not?

Answer 9

Universal, Every person experiences similar changes to skin, muscle structures and bone density over time.

Question 10

What is culture?

Answer 10

A set of shared social meanings, values, beliefs, norms, customs

Question 11

What are values?

Answer 11

Internalized criteria by which members select and judge goals or behaviours.

Question 12

What are beliefs?

Answer 12

A conception of the world and what is thought to be true.

Question 13

What are norms?

Answer 13

Expected behaviours in specific social situations

Question 14

What are customs?

Answer 14

Typical ways of doingg things.

Question 15

What do gerontologists use to understand the social aspects of aging?

Answer 15

Historical comparison

Question 16

What must be considered when implementing health policy?

Answer 16

Religion, language, and culture. Presents unique challenges for health policy.

Question 17

What is ethnicity?

Answer 17

Your place of birth, country(ies) of birth of ones parent,s citizenship, choice of membership (a very ambiguous concept).

Question 18

What are minority groups?

Answer 18

Those ethnocultural groups that have not originated in northern and western Europe.

Question 19

What are visible minorities?

Answer 19

Non-European and or not white in skin tone- does not include indigenous populations.

Question 20

What are ethnocultural groups and how are seniors treated in these groups?

Answer 20

Emphasizing familial ties and familistic values vs individualistic values. Seniors in these societies are more likely to live with their adult children than at a Seniors centre.

Question 21

What is multiple jeopardy theory?

Answer 21

There is a compounding of disadvantages associated with age, race, ethnicity and gender. Allows us to separate effects of age from inequality.

Question 22

Why is the multiple jeopardy theory criticized?

Answer 22

For the difficulty of measurement, and it may lead us to overlook contributions of ethnic minority seniors.

Question 23

What is buffering theory?

Answer 23

A culture that values seniors and provides meaningful roles for them tends to protect them to a degree from losses and social devaluation.

Question 24

What percentage of seniors are not Canadian born and immigrated here in their youth?

Answer 24

30%

Question 25

What is the difference in economic security between seniors who moved in childhood and grew old here, versus those who moved during old age?

Answer 25

Higher economic security in the former, more time to adapt and get pension.

Question 26

What is the healthy immigrant effect?

Answer 26

Tendency for life expectancy and general health to be higher in immigrants than persons born in Canada. Declines based on duration in Canada.

Question 27

Why does the healthy immigrant effect happen?

Answer 27

Immigrants are more healthy than those unable to travel due to health problems. Younger immigrants are healthier than older. Self selection: younger individuals are more up for a move than older.

Question 28

What are some healthcare challenges for seniors who immigrate or who are in minority groups?

Answer 28

Language barriers, lack of cultural sensitivity, different concepts of disease and treatment. High cost of transportation if out of the city, prescription cost.

Question 29

How did traditional societies get rid of their elders?

Answer 29

1) Neglect (not feeding/cleaning until death)
2) Abandonment
3) encourage suicide
4) kill

Question 30

What are the 2 conditions for societies to get rid of their elders?

Answer 30

1) Nomadic hunter-gatherers that shift camp

2) societies in marginal/fluctuating environments (arctic/desert = food shortages).

Question 31

How do New Guinea Farming societies and sedentary traditional societies treat their elders?

Answer 31

Elders are fed and cared for, remain valuable, live in the same hut near their relatives and friends.

Question 32

Why is there variation between traditional societies (2 reasons)?

Answer 32

Usefulness of old people, and societies values.

Question 33

How can older people contribute to society?

Answer 33

Are effective food producers, capable of babysitting, tools, weapons, basket making. Are leaders and have knowledge— knowledge can spell the difference between survival and death.

Question 34

What is the idea of Filial Piety in Asia?

Answer 34

Confucius. Means obedience, respect, and support for elderly parents.

Question 35

What are age-based allocations of health resources in the USA?

Answer 35

Hospital resources are limited and there is a preference to younger over older.

Question 36

What are the 3 reasons elders have low status in the USA?

Answer 36

1) Protestant work ethic- high value on work
2) Virtues of self-reliance and independence
3) Cult of youth- young people in advertising.

Question 37

What are 3 ways we can improve the lives of the elderly?

Answer 37

1) Grandparents- usefulness, better for childcare, won’t quit this job
2) Older people have value due to their unique experience of living conditions that could possibly return (like Great depression, atomic bombs etc) can help plan for these events
3) Some abilities increase with age. Experience, understanding and helpfulness without an ego.