Old

Question 1

economic

Answer 1

• Older people may suffer from low levels of income as they retire. In fact 33% of single pensioners live below the poverty line and 19% of those living in poverty are pensioners.
• Those who have low paid jobs during their working life are also more likely to suffer financial disadvantage in later years. Some people have accumulated large wealth so there is a difference between those retiring to stage pensions and those who retire with large shores of wealth.
• Marxists have used the theory of the reserve army of labour to show how the ruling classes use old people to fill the gaps in the job market during economic boom times, treating them with short term contracts which mean their position is weaker and may well be paid less than full time, permanent workers, leading to them being worse off economically.

Question 2

Work

Answer 2

• European legislation passed in 2006 made age discrimination illegal, however a MORI survey found 1 in 5 workers questioned reported having been discriminated against on the grounds of age. People nearing retirement report being sideline and put out to pasture.
• Middle aged women also report discrimination based on the assumption that they are of ‘child bearing age’ which may lead employers to assume that they will be taking maternity leave or prioritising child care.
• Parkin uses the theory of social closure to explain why older people may be blocked from some areas of social life such as getting jobs so younger, middle aged people can maintain there privilege of being able to work.

Question 3

Media

Answer 3

• Stereotypes of elderly women see them as ‘little old ladies’ - harmless perhaps, but also powerless and passive like an infant.
• In the media children and the elderly are often portrayed as having an affinity with one another because they are both dependent, in the process old age is infantilised. The elderly are made to seem child-like and as a result they lose the status of being adults who have full personhood.
• Consequences of older people being linked to children in the media were demonstrated in studies by Jenny Hockey of old people’s homes. Hockey found that the clients of old people’s homes were often treated like children. They were not allowed to keep their own money, which instead was looked after by the staff who would give them ‘pocket money’ if they needed it. The privacy of their body was often invaded, as staff members washed, bathed or dressed them. and they were given few choices about daily routine such as when they ate or even when they went to the toilet.