old age

Question 1

pensionable age in Britain

Answer 1

65-men

currently rising from 60-65 for women

Question 2

by age 65, how many people are in pursuit of state pension and who said this?

Answer 2

> 90%

Arber and Gin

Question 3

Kiernan and Wicks use central office of statistics to show how old age is increasing

Answer 3

1901-1.7 million
1991-10 million
2030 (predicted) 15 million

Question 4

evidence of stigmatisation in old age

Answer 4

1992 age concern survey, 4/5 young british adults worried about becoming old, citing reasons of becoming dependent, ill health and loneliness

Question 5

who supports stigmatisation of old age?

Answer 5

Hockey and James-everyday descriptions are negative e.g. ‘one foot in the grave’

Question 6

who talks about ageism being reinforced in british institutions and what is the main argument?

Answer 6

• Arber and Ginn
• labour market, compulsory to retire
• eligibility for state pension and travel/leisure facilities are fixed at specific ages
• also permeates medical treatment…can’t expect to feel fit and healthy if you’re old, excludes them from certain treatments

Question 7

who supports arber and gin’s argument about ageism in british institutions?

Answer 7

Midwinter-must stop being an active girl guide member at aged 65

Question 8

who talks about disassociation from old age and what is the main argument?

Answer 8

• Thompson et al
• interviewed sample age 65-87, found whatever their appearance and health, almost unanimously didn’t think of themselves as old
• isn’t as negative as assumed to be, only 21% cited poor health as an issue

Question 9

who supported Thompson’s findings?

Answer 9

O’Donnell-found labels didn’t match experiences

Question 10

who talks about the mask of old age and what did they mean?

Answer 10

• Featherstone and Hepworth
• body is a prison for the soul/self
• ageing body is a mask/disguise so disassociate themselves, they know what’s underneath
• body is valued in late modernity and old bodies aren’t valued

Question 11

Disengagement theory

Answer 11

Cumming and Henry: Functionalist. old people become disengaged from society by withdrawing from the labour market and generally other social activities. prepares society for the ultimate disengagement:death. Functional for the individual as gives them time to focus on upcoming death, functional for society because it allows it to carry on following the death of an individual and not come to a halt

Question 12

criticisms of disengagement theory

Answer 12

X-Bond, Biggs and Coleman-some are never that sociable (not just old age)
X-ignores structural factors
X-encourages elderly to be lonely by disengaging

Question 13

political economy theory

Answer 13

Townsend and Phillipson: focuses on structural factors such as capitalism causing elderly to become disengaged as they are told to retire from the labour force. 1991 census data showed only 21% of old age population lives with someone in the labour market. This institutional ageism benefits management of industry and the economy.

Question 14

criticism of political economy theory

Answer 14

X-Johnstone-concentration on structured dependency limits optimistic views of old age

Question 15

who critiques Johnstone?

Answer 15

Walker-high poverty levels among elderly. 1991, 54% couples and 63% singles had below average incomes

Question 16

Exchange theory

Answer 16

Turner. Critiques political economy theory for deterministic capitalism. Insists that old are stigmatised because of their declining reciprocity in society.

Question 17

criticism of exchange theory

Answer 17

Bernard and Meade-versions of exchange theory have helped fuel debates about interage group conflict over scarce societal resources

Question 18

Cohort/social generational approach

Answer 18

Dowd-old people considered ‘immigrants in our time’ and ‘strangers in their own land’. have strange preferences e.g. entertainment and fashion due to knowledge of other times. gives them a past situated identity

Question 19

criticism of cohort/social generational approach

Answer 19

of course there’s going to be differences between younger and older cultures, but this is criticising the culture different cohorts can share

Question 20

Activity theory

Answer 20

Positive outlook. Associated with functionalism, sees successful old age being achieved by maintaining relationships and taking on new roles. Would limit loneliness and idleness.

Question 21

criticism of activity theory

Answer 21

downplays cultural factors and unrealistic