SOCI 1010 Lecture Notes - Ageism, Social System, Sandwich Generation
Document Summary
Lecture # 7 the sociology of age. Treatment of a person based on age is country and culture specific. Ageism: the belief that age is associated with certain psychological, behavioral or intellectual traits. Defines legal status (what you can or cannot do). Age grading the assignment of roles given to chronological ages. Subdivided into young adulthood, adulthood, and middle age. Dramatic role changes (entering workforce, marriage, parenthood). Concept of middle age recent development (life expectancy extended). Sandwich generation : emotionally and economically responsible for both young and children and aging parents. Elderhood: 65+: divided into young-old, old and old-old. Old-old: less healthy, less active, and more dependent. Myths about the elderly: always sick, most in nursing homes, senile, victims of crime, loss of sexual satisfaction, unable to adapt. Interconnected of social system statuses and roles, social institutions functions: other social institutions; economy, education, media, family, religion, peer groups. Elderly must relinquish their roles to younger members.
