Chapter 12 & 13- Gender and Age- Sociology
Symbolic interactionism and aging (not on study guide)
-focuses on day to day interactions, how people perceive themselves based on cultural symbols -This perspective stresses that the changes with old age have no inherent meaning, nothing in the nature of aging creates any particular defined set of attitudes. The attitudes toward the elderly are rooted in society Three theories: subculture of aging theory, selective optimization with compensation theory, and gerotranscendence
young old
65-74
middle old
75-84
old old
85+
baby boomers
A cohort of individuals born in the United States between 1946 and 1964. This is one of the first groups of children and teens with their own spending power and therefore own marketing power. They are the dramatic increase in the over 65 population. The aging of the baby boom affects society: -healthcare: medicare has additional burden due to the baby boomers -Medical schools don't produce enough medical professionals who specialize in geritric patients -There's economic growth in the healthcare industry due to them
conflict perspective on aging (not on study guide)
According to the guiding principle of conflict theory, social groups compete with other groups for power and scarce resources. Applied to society's aging population, the principle means that the elderly struggle with other groups—for example, younger society members—to retain a certain share of resources. At some point, this competition may become conflict. Modernization theory, age stratification theory, exchange theory
gender socialization
Children learn at a young age that there are distinct expectations for boys and girls. -Cross-cultural studies reveal that children are aware of gender roles by age two or three. -At four or five, most children are firmly entrenched in culturally appropriate gender roles (Kane 1996). -Children acquire these roles through socialization, a process in which people learn to behave in a particular way as dictated by societal values, beliefs, and attitudes.
subculture of aging theory (symbolic interactionism and aging) (not on study)
Elders disengage from society and develop new patterns of interactions with peers who share common backgrounds and interests Focuses on the shared community created by the elder when they are excluded due to age
poverty of elders
In the 60s, 35% of elderly lived in poverty and the elderly had the highest risk of living in poverty. However in the early 2000s the poverty rate fell to 9% until the recession because of women joining the workforce (more double incomes) and higher savings for retirement. Due to greater access to healthcare people live longer and therefore work longer
structural functionalism on gender
Looks at gender roles within a marriage Gender roles were established before the pre-industrial era, and defined roles. These roles were considered functional because women were often limited by the physical restraints of pregnancy and nursing. Once established these roles were passed down the generations because it was effective means of keeping the family system functioning properly Changes occured during WW2, where women were now working. Society fell into imbalance Gender roles are functional under this theory
symbolic interactionism and gender
Looks at the way we attach meaning to gender: masculinity and femininity doing gender- people performing tasks based on gender role assigned to them Gender is a social construct Social construction of sexuality- refers to the way in which socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior shape the way people see and experience sexuality. This is in marked contrast to theories of sex, gender, and sexuality that link male and female behavior to biological determinism, or the belief that men and women behave differently due to differences in their biology.
Conflict theory and gender (not on study guide)
Men are the dominant group and women as the subordinate group. social problmes are created when the dominant group exploits a subordinate group. Women can become dominant in the family structure, but still may carry the majority of the domestic burden
life expectancy
The average number of years a person born today may expect to live. In the US we are living longer. Centenarians make up one of the fastest growing segments of the population Women are expected to live longer in the US than men 76 for males, 82 for female
modernization theory (conflict perspective on aging) (not on study guide)
The primary cause of the elderly losing power are the parallel forces of industrialization and modernization. As societies modernize, the status of elders decreases, and they are increasingly likely to experience social exclusion. Before industrialization, strong social norms bound the younger generation to care for the older. Now, as societies industrialize, the nuclear family replaces the extended family. Societies become increasingly individualistic, and norms regarding the care of older people change. In an individualistic industrial society, caring for an elderly relative is seen as a voluntary obligation that may be ignored without fear of social censure.
who is most likely to do elder abuse
Those who have inexperience in caregiving, have other demand, live full time with the dependent elder, experience high stress/isolation. A history of depression in the caregiver was found to increase the likelihood of elder abuse Neglect is more likely when care was provided by paid caregivers. Many caregivers who physically abused elders were abused themselves
age stratification theory (conflict theory on aging) (not on study guide)
We stratify by age, and because age serves as a basis of social control, different age groups will have varying access to social resources. Behavioral age norms may dictate what members of age cohorts may reasonably do. This theory had been criticized for its broadness and its inattention to other sources of stratification and how these might intersect with age.
gerontology
a field of science that seeks to understand the process of aging and the challenges encountered as seniors grow older
gender identity
a person's deeply held internal perception of one's gender
exchange theory (conflict theory on aging) (not on study guide)
a rational choice approach, suggests we experience increased dependence as we age and must increasingly submit to the will of others because we have fewer ways of compelling others to submit to us. As the elderly become less able to exchange resources, their social circles diminish. the only means to avoid being discarded is to engage in resoource management Criticisms: -depends too much on the assumption that individuals are calculating. Too much emphasis to material exchange and devaluing nonmaterial assets such as love and friendship
gerontocracy
a type of social structure wherein the power is held by a society's oldest members. -was common in preindustrial societies
activity theory (functionalist perspective on aging)
activity levels and social involvement are key to this process, and key to happiness According to this theory, the more active and involved an elderly person is, the happier he or she will be. Critics of this theory point out that access to social opportunities and activity are not equally available to all. Moreover, not everyone finds fulfillment in the presence of others or participation in activities. Reformulations of this theory suggest that participation in informal activities, such as hobbies, are what most effect later life satisfaction
selective optimization with compensation (symbolic interactionism and aging) (not on study)
based on the idea that successful personal development throughout life and subsequent mastery of the challenges associated with everday life are based on selection, optimization, and compensation -aging is a process and not an outcome, where goals are based on the individual We select (selection) personal goals to get the most (optimize) for the effort we put into activities, in this way making up for (compensation) the loss of a wider range of goals and activities
aging around the world
dependency ration- the number of nonproductive citizen to productive working citizens The dependency ratio is going to be affected by the increasing ratio of elderly China currently has 13% of its population as elderly, by 2050, it will be close to 1/3 of the total population filial piety (deference and respect ot one's ancestors in all things) is common in China In the US we view as elderly care as a burden
ageism
discrimination (when someone acts on a prejudice) based on age -exists in all cultures -reduces elderly people to inferior or limited positions
four major agents of gender socialization
family, education, peer groups, and mass media Family is the first agent, education reinforces these stereotypes, mimicking the actions of peer groups, then mass media like tv
transgender (not on study guide)
individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex of their birth
graying of American prisons
is it just to keep the elderly in prison, even after they are incapable of committing a crime?
elder abuse
occurs when a caretaker intentionally deprives an older person of care or harms the person in his or her charge. Caregivers may be family members, relatives, friends, health professionals, or employees of senior housing or nursing care. The elderly may be subject to many different types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect, financial, self-neglect 1/10 elders suffer elder abuse risk of abuse increases with dementia. Women are found to be victims of verbal abuse more than males.
stereotypes
oversimplified ideas about groups of people
functionalist perspective on aging
people with better resources who stay active in other roles adjust better to old age. Disengagement theory Activity theory continuity theory
sexism
prejudiced beliefs that value one sex over another. It varies in its level of severity Gender stereotypes form the basis of sexism
stratification
refers to a system in which groups of people experience unequal access to basic, yet highly valuable social resources
GRAYING OF THE UNITED STATES
refers to the increasing share of the US population over the age of sixty-five (elderly as defined by the US Government) Demographically the US population over 65 increased from 3 million in 1900 to 33 million in 1994 and 36.8 million in 2010. Graying of the US is occuring because of longer life expectancy
sex vs gender
sex: physical or physiological differences between males and females, including both primary sex characteristics (reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity Gender: behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society attributes to being female or male
social construction of sexuality
socially created definitions about the cultural appropriateness of sex-linked behavior which shape how people see and experience sexuality
gender role
society's concept of how men and women are expected to look and how they should behave. These roles are based on norms, or standards created by society. In US Culture: -Masculine roles are associated with strenght, aggression, and dominance -feminine roles are associated with passivity, nuturing, and subordination
social gerontology
specialized field of gerontology that examines the social aspects of aging.
senescence
the aging process, including biological, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual changes
biological determinism (not on study guide)
the belief that men and women behave differently due to inherent sex differences related to their biology
continuity theory (functionalism and aging)
the elderly make specific choices to maintain consistency in internal (personality structure, beliefs) and external structures (relationships), remaining active and involved throughout their elder years. This is an attempt to maintain social equilibrium and stability by making future decisions on the basis of already developed social roles One criticism of this theory is its emphasis on so-called "normal" aging, which marginalizes those with chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Gerotransecendence (symbolic interactionism and aging) (not on study)
the idea that as people age, they transcend the limited views of life they held in earlier times. throughout the aging process, the elderly become less self-centered and feel more peaceful and connected to the natural world. Wisdom comes to the elderly, and as the elderly tolerate ambiguities and seeming contradictions, they let go of conflict and develop softer views of right and wrong -some will feel isolated and become grumpy and judgmental instead of wise -Individuals must struggle to overcome their own failings and turn them into strengths.
gender stratification
the unequal distribution of wealth, power, and privilege between men and women -Women make only 77 cents per dollar that a man makes -all societies stratify by gender
disengagement theory (functionalist perspective on aging)
withdrawing from society and social relationships is a natural part of growing old. (Because we expect to die, and we experience physical and mental decline, we withdraw) (Elderly experience less reinforcement to conform). Withdraw is gendered.If people don't adopt a role to replace their old role they will be unhappy Criticisms typically focus on the application of the idea that seniors universally naturally withdraw from society as they age, and that it does not allow for a wide variation in the way people experience aging