SOC 3118 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Old Age, Disengagement Theory, Late Modernity
31 Jul 2018
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Immigration helped demographic growth but is not the solution to curb an aging population: 1 out of 4 canadian will over the age of 65. 11/14/17: old-old ages 75-84, oldest-old ages 85 and over. 11/14/17: but we have nothing to replace it yet. Isolation is most common among elderly people: the greatest cause of social isolation is the inevitable death of significant others, retirement comes with reduced social prestige and loss of purpose. Structural-functional analysis: disengagement theory: society enhances its orderly operation by disengaging people from positions of responsibility as they reach old age, critical evaluation, many still have financial need, costs could outweigh benefits, does not allow for differing abilities. Social-conflict analysis: different age categories have different opportunities, creating a system of age stratification, middle-aged people in canada enjoy the greatest power. Elderly may become second-class citizens: age-based hierarchy is inherent in an industrial-capitalist society, critical evaluation: 11/14/17: elderly have increasing income and well-being.
