Age Inequality 40 mark plan:
Point 1: Functionalism
AO2:
View age inequality in a positive way
Use concepts of consensus and social agreements to account for
lower status of the old in our society
Cumming and henry refer to the idea of “disengagement,” which
they saw as a gradual process of withdrawing from society as older
generations pass on their social roles to younger people in
preparation for their loss of faculties and forthcoming death
The process of disengagement is different for men and women as
they fulfil different social roles. Men must retire from public life
Eisenstadt: different generational groups allowed individuals to learn
social roles as they grow older and this contributes to consensus
and cohesion
It is the role of the old to socialise the young to prepare them for
their own futures
AO3:
Most research suggests that older people benefit from remaining
active and engaged
Havighurst’s activity theory: suggested that activity is good for the
community and older people, but that older people in different
sectors of society have differing opportunities to engage
Maddox and Atchley’s continuity theory: individual personality
characteristics remain similar, so those who were engaged in youth
will be engaged in old age
There is a great range of experiences of ageing
Little evidence to support, difficult to test
Point 2: Marxism
AO2:
Dominant capitalist groups control wealth and power in society
They oppress and exploit the labour of workers
One of the most important mechanisms for limiting the wages of
workers is the reserve army of labour - the people who may
normally work as they are old, young, from ethnic minorities or are
women
If they do work, they are in low sectors of working class
In times when there is economic growth, then this reserve army can
take on jobs. When the economy is in downturn, they are sacked
first
Old and young are a significant part of this group
Dual labour market argues that there is a secondary sector in the
labour market of people who take short-term, low-skill work with no
prospect of promotion
The young are vulnerable to this type of work, with 0 hour
contracts/earning lower wages than they would if they were older
Point 1: Functionalism
AO2:
View age inequality in a positive way
Use concepts of consensus and social agreements to account for
lower status of the old in our society
Cumming and henry refer to the idea of “disengagement,” which
they saw as a gradual process of withdrawing from society as older
generations pass on their social roles to younger people in
preparation for their loss of faculties and forthcoming death
The process of disengagement is different for men and women as
they fulfil different social roles. Men must retire from public life
Eisenstadt: different generational groups allowed individuals to learn
social roles as they grow older and this contributes to consensus
and cohesion
It is the role of the old to socialise the young to prepare them for
their own futures
AO3:
Most research suggests that older people benefit from remaining
active and engaged
Havighurst’s activity theory: suggested that activity is good for the
community and older people, but that older people in different
sectors of society have differing opportunities to engage
Maddox and Atchley’s continuity theory: individual personality
characteristics remain similar, so those who were engaged in youth
will be engaged in old age
There is a great range of experiences of ageing
Little evidence to support, difficult to test
Point 2: Marxism
AO2:
Dominant capitalist groups control wealth and power in society
They oppress and exploit the labour of workers
One of the most important mechanisms for limiting the wages of
workers is the reserve army of labour - the people who may
normally work as they are old, young, from ethnic minorities or are
women
If they do work, they are in low sectors of working class
In times when there is economic growth, then this reserve army can
take on jobs. When the economy is in downturn, they are sacked
first
Old and young are a significant part of this group
Dual labour market argues that there is a secondary sector in the
labour market of people who take short-term, low-skill work with no
prospect of promotion
The young are vulnerable to this type of work, with 0 hour
contracts/earning lower wages than they would if they were older
