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Social Problems
Aging and Ageism
The Social problem of Ageism
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http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=707
7021585117249336&q=&hl=en
Concept of the Life Course
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A patterned sequence of experiences
influenced by aspects of age such as
maturity, decline, generation, survival, and
the life cycle
There are expected and experienced life
courses in every society
We follow known age related patterns
May be a gap between the two > can be
cause of distress or disappointment
Problems Over the Life Course
The Life Course…
1. Childhood:
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Poor children have more problems
Increased obesity among all children
2. Adolescence:
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Early teens cannot do legally what later teens can
Poor teens less likely to have a job or be in school
Young people are staying at home much longer
delaying the next stage
Problems (cont.)
3. Young Adulthood
 Traditionally the time to get established, but
now is more difficult, if not postponed
4. Middle Age
 Income and prestige are at the peak, but
signs of physical aging begin, e.g., wrinkles,
stiffness, decline of senses, etc.
 This is the “sandwich generation”
Problems (cont.)
5. Late Maturity and Old Age
 Older people are an increasing percentage of the
population
 Young-old (65-74 yrs) are very active
 Middle-old (75-84 yrs)
 Old-old (85+ yrs)
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Although majority not lonely, living in an institution, or poor, a
significant number are experiencing problems
In U.S. in 2005, 70,000 centenarians (Anguera, 2005)
Canada: 4,600 in 2007
(http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/07/17/censuscanada.html)
Suicide and the Life Course
Around the world older people have a much
higher suicide rate than do younger people
In Canada:
 Men: rates rise from teen years, decline to
later maturity, and rise a little for 75+ yrs
 Women: have lower rates with a high point at
45-59 yrs
 While there is a gender difference, and
suicide does tend to increase for elderly
men, no age seems significantly more
difficult
Suicide by Age…
(Kendall et al. 2008)
Attitudes toward Aging
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Many other cultures revere the elderly, but
Western culture worships youth
Eg. What were the results of your IAT??
Our social institutions, especially the media,
help to create negative stereotypes toward
aging and the aged
This is ageism
Ageism negatively affects those who are
discriminated against
Changing the Stereotype:
The Zimmers
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The Zimmers and My Generation
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http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfFrCUrEbY
See also:
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http://www.myspace.com/thezimmersband
http://www.thezimmersonline.com/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6549333.
stm
Some “Zimmer Facts”…
“* In 2000, there were 600 million people aged 60
and over; there will be 1.2 billion by 2025 and 2
billion by 2050.
* Today, about two thirds of all older people are
living in the developing world; by 2025, it will be
75%.
* In the developed world, the very old (age 80+) is
the fastest growing population group.
* Women outlive men in virtually all societies;
consequently in very old age, the ratio of
women/men is 2:1.”
(from http://www.myspace.com/thezimmersband)
Ageism as a Social Problem
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Ageism: prejudice and discrimination against
people on the basis of age
Chronological Age: based on date of birth
Functional Age: observable individual
attributes such as physical appearance,
mobility, strength, mental capacity, etc. used
to assign people to age categories
Age-Based Stereotypes*
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Young children: “rug rats”
Old people: “greedy geezers”
Inverted U curve: older and younger are rated lower
in status than younger and middle-aged adults
*For more on age based stereotypes of the elderly,
especially in media, see “Attacking Ageism in
Advertising” by Robert Wood at
http://www.medialit.org/reading_room/article523.html
*Or watch: “Images Of Aging: Stereotypes And
Ageism In Society” (2005) with Joaquin Anguera,
Ph.D., Professor, Department of Gerontology at San
Diego State University (You can also find it by
searching for “Successful Aging: Images of Aging” on
Google Video)
Societal Examples of Ageism
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Lack of focus on elder issues
Invisibility of older members of society
Elder products, including media articles
relegated to “specialty sections”
Paternalistic treatment of the elderly
Focus on shortcomings, illness rather than
stregths and contributions of the elderly
(from Anguera, 2005)
Consequences of Ageism
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Stereotypes become self-fulfilling prophecy
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(one experiment shows that being treated in stereotypical
manner can affect physical health and appearance as well
as psychological well being of elderly)
Forced to conform to stereotypes
Loss of freedom and efficacy in many areas leads to
more rapid aging
Lowered self esteem and personal happiness
Exclusion from normal social interaction and social
relationships leads to loss of essential social support
Age Stratification Theory
Age Stratification: the inequalities, differences,
segregation between age groups.
 Focus on the role of social structures in the process
of aging and the stratification of people by age.
 Also analyzes the movement of age cohorts over
the life cycle
 Canada has an aging population
 Factors related to an aging population:
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emigration of young people
an influx of seniors
low birth rates
Problems Related to Age
Stratification
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Workplace discrimination: younger workers are
preferred
Retirement:
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Debate – should there be a mandatory retirement age?
No longer in Ontario and some other provinces
But many people, e.g., small business owners, women
working part-time, may not have pensions
Are There Economic Problems
Related to Aging Population?
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Traditional thinking:
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societies with a high proportion of very old people
face a special problem because the elderly
consume a high proportion of the national
economy in the form of supports
However, new research and thinking
contradicts this traditional thought:
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Ageing and elderly people may be a social
resource rather than a drain…
He ain't heavy, he's my boomer
(Andrew Chung, The Toronto Star, May 27, 2007)
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“…A new international study forcefully argues
against this idea and tries to put the lie to some of
the many doomsday scenarios that have floated
around for the last 20 years about our aging
populace. In fact, there is a growing line of defence
around the seniors and the almost-seniors, which
regards as shaky the desperate claims of future tax
bills spiking to meet their public spending and health
care requirements…”
Read the full article at:
http://www.thestar.com/article/218076
Older workers a drain? Not a
chance, study finds
(Virginia Galt, Globe and Mail May 23, 2007)
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“Meet the new tax gusher: the golden-age
employee. Working Canadians between the ages of
60 and 79 contribute more than $2.2-billion each
year in tax payments on employment income - and
there is every indication that the populous baby
boom generation coming up behind them intends to
stay even more connected to work, HSBC Bank
Canada said yesterday in issuing the results of a
global survey conducted by Oxford University's
Institute of Ageing…”
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Source:http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?
user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FLAC.20070523.R
SENIORS23%2FTPStory%2F%3Fquery%3DVirginia%2BGalt&ord=10782574&brand=
theglobeandmail&redirect_reason=2&denial_reasons=none&force_login=false
Social Problems Related to Aging
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The elderly in Canada are less destitute than
those in other countries, but many continue to
face economic strain
Feminization of aging: older women tend to
have fewer resources
Family Problems and Social Isolation:
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Many seniors live alone
Suffer from loneliness, boredom
Problem of the “tea-and-toasters”
But many, especially women, have networks of
family and friends
Social (cont.)
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During downturns in the economy, employers
often target elderly workers in order to cut
expenses
Elderly people often face job discrimination as
they are still expected to retire at age 65
For instance, a recent article in the Globe and
Mail refers to older workers as “a pain”:
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Baby Boomers a pain to work with, say young'uns
(by Virginia Galt, Globe and Mail,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20
070524.wboomers0524/BNStory/robAtWork/)
Social (cont.)
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Victimization: on the whole, although seniors are less
likely to be victims of crime, scams involving elderly
people and elder abuse are often in the news.
An example, from the Globe and Mail:
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“Teen arrested in beating of 97-year-old (by Armina
Ligaya, May 24, 2007) Burnaby RCMP have arrested an 18year-old man in connection with the home invasion and
assault of a 97-year-old woman who lived alone….”
Incidents like the one above lead to fear,
powerlessness and a loss of sense of control
Health Problems Related to Aging
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Physical and mental abilities tend to deteriorate
Transition to elderly status often a difficult one
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Elder abuse is another concern
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Can result in depression leading to further problems
Physical, sexual, emotional and/or psychological
abuse have become social problems that endanger
the health of the elderly
Self-neglect and a fear of being victimized are
other notable problems
Use of Health Care
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Most seniors living at home report good
health
Seniors account for one-third of health
care spending in Canada, but they are
not likely to bankrupt the system
Again, see “He ain't heavy, he's my
boomer” by Andrew Chung at
http://www.thestar.com/article/218076
Housing Patterns and Long-TermCare Facilities
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Maintaining one’s home is increasingly costly,
especially for single or widowed seniors
7% of seniors live in institutions
Some long-term-care facilities are excellent,
but some depersonalize individuals
Some institutions may be sub-standard
Increasing reports of elder abuse in
institutions
Social Support for Aging and
Elderly People
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Higher life satisfaction for the elderly linked to
better health
Factors related to life satisfaction:
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Social and family support
Marital status
High levels of religious activity
Sociological Perspectives
Functionalist
Disengagement Theory:
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Older people want to be released from social
expectations
Permits transfer of responsibilities to the next
generation
Critique: Many older people disengaged because of
rules, not by choice. The consequence is that they
are removed from positions of power and influence.
Many elderly wish to and do continue to work in paid
and volunteer jobs.
Perspectives (cont.)
Conflict
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Conflict theorists argue that ageism is a form
of inequality plied by the younger majority to
further their own interests
We are losing a valued resource by
marginalizing the elderly
Perspectives (cont.)
Interactionist
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symbolic interactionists focus on how socially
constructed definitions of age and aging affect a
person's experience of growing old
Activity Theory:
 Older people who are active are happier and better
adjusted, and older people find meaningful
substitutes for previous roles
 Critique: Older may not wish or be able to maintain
active lifestyles
Perspectives (cont.)
Feminist
Senior women have
 Much lower incomes than senior men
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Should improve with women in the labour force
More disability than senior men
Feminist theories stress that aging has more
negative consequences for women than it
does for men
Improving Quality of Life…
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Tepperman et al. suggest:
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Use of the telephone and new technology like the
Internet as a means of delivering some of the needed
support
Teaching people to help themselves by learning how
to age effectively through anticipatory socialization
Lobbying, to increase public awareness of their
special circumstances
Pressing government for improvements to current
standard of living.
Calling for government legislation aimed at shaping
the physical environment in a way that will increase
the independence and mobility of elderly people.