PAPER 2 SECTION B AGE INEQUALITIES

Question 1

What social factors could mean that not all elderly/youth experience inequality?

Answer 1

Social class (wealth)
Ethnicity
Medical advancement
Technological advancement
Gender
Location (to be thought about in
The prep)

Question 2

2 FUNCTIONALIST ideas about age inequalities ()

Question 3

4 MARXIST ideas about age inequalities (Marx, Gramsci, Althusser, Townsend, Phillipson x2)

Answer 3

MARX & PHILLIPSON
IDEA: Reserved army of labour / Age inequality benefits the bourgeoisie

Marx stated that a reserve army of labour was a necessary part of capitalism. Some members of society are a secondary source of labour. Phillipson says originally the RAOL was just the elderly, but the role grew in recent years to the unemployed, under employed or the young.
These groups can be used at boom times as temporary or flexible labour.
Pensions and sick pay aren’t offered in zero hour contracts (given work at anytime). Those in the reserve army of labour are more likely to take up these contracts to bring in income.

GRAMSCI
IDEA: Bourgeoisie distracts proletariat through concessions & prevents revolution.

Political society (ruling through force) and civil society (rule through consent) can be applied to understanding the inequality faced by different age groups. False class consciousness explains that people
do not realise their exploitation often through concessions that they receive. It could be argued that small measures, such as child benefit and pensions, act as a form of this. This creates a form of dependency, legitimating the need for the powers of authority. Thus, the elderly and youth don’t question their exploitation through the labour market, accepting things such as zero hour contracts.

ALTHUSSER
IDEA: Pensions are used as an ISA against the elderly

Ignores factors such as class, gender, nationality, disability and wealth, which affects one’s experience. In many industries and jobs, the elderly are not systematically marginalised and able to work as hgih court ministers etc.

PHILLIPSON & TOWNSEND
IDEA:

The economy’s needs of the elderly explains the inequalities faced by the elderly.
Phillipson argues that this places the elderly in a negative position as a burden on the economy. Capitalism needs to continually renew its workforce to ensure grater profit by using young workers who may be more productive.
A forced dependency then takes place where the elderly become dependent on society as they’re denied access to work. This then lowers their status, especially in a society where status is dependent on occupation and independence.
For capitalism, a system must be enforced where the elderly are institutional marginalised. This happens through a process of institutionalised dependency ie the elderly being forced to retire so therefore the needs of the economy are met as younger, more productive employees are required. It can be argued that the inequality faced by the elderly meet the needs of capitalism.