SOC334H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Postmodern Philosophy, Disengagement Theory, Content Analysis
Document Summary
Introduction: three broad areas to gerontology, biomedicine, looks at the changes in physiology and health that comes with age. Theory in the study of aging: sociologists define theory as a conceptual model of some aspect of life, theory give interpretation to the facts, two levels of theory, micro. Individual social interaction: macro, social structures, social processes. Identifies similarities and differences between and among different age cohorts. It assumes that norms and values influence individual aging. It describes the relationship between the individual and society as a feedback loop: weaknesses, people don"t experience the world the same way, makes little reference to the tensions and conflicts between social. Looks at how social programs and policies for older people serve the interests of middle-aged, middle class professionals: cumulative disadvantage theory: focuses on the lifelong effects of inequality. It challenges the traditional focus on men in research and the ageist biases in mainstream feminist theories.
