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Sunday, December 16, 2012
Inequality in America's Elderly Population
Recent research has shown that American has a negative view of elderly people. This finding has placed elderly people as another minority group. Despite the fact that elderly people spend more on health care and housing than younger people, the government assumes that older people require less money to live. 6% of the elderly population is considered to be near poor. 16% of those over age sixty five are poor. Most elderly Americans do now have sources of income beyond Social Security benefits.
Elderly people who are also member of racial or ethnic minority groups are generally in worse condition than older white Americans. The poverty rate among older African Americans is three times that for whites. Elderly women constitute one of the poorest segments of American society. Women over age sixty five are twice as likely to live in poverty than their male counterparts. Because older women are discouraged from better jobs in their working years, they are unable to support themselves in their later years.
Elderly people who are also member of racial or ethnic minority groups are generally in worse condition than older white Americans. The poverty rate among older African Americans is three times that for whites. Elderly women constitute one of the poorest segments of American society. Women over age sixty five are twice as likely to live in poverty than their male counterparts. Because older women are discouraged from better jobs in their working years, they are unable to support themselves in their later years.
Because of the limited economic resources of older people, it is clear that any power they hold in gained through the political process. The voting booth and political interest groups are important. Most researchers believe that the potential political power of elderly Americans as a group is not fully realized because of the diversity of the older population. Because many older people cut across many important divisions in American society, they do not speak with a unified voice.
Theoretical Perspectives on Ageism
Functionalism
Functionalists believe elderly people are treated according to the role of aged play in their society. In many societies, ageism is not an issue. Elderly people are treated with great respect and honor in most societies. In agricultural societies, elderly men play important roles, such as priest or elder. In early colonial America, no stigma was attached to age. It was believed God looked with favor on those who reached old age. In the 1600s, people wore clothing that made them appear older.
Attitudes about aging have changed greatly as industrialization changed the nature of work. It is believed that younger workers are more likely to possess the current skills needed in the workplace. Older people lack the wisdom that is now highly valued.
The loss of status with older age may be to blame for the increase in suicide rates for men of retirement age. Men are believed to be strong with work, and retirement denies them that value.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theorists believe competition for scarce resources is to blame for ageism. Elderly people compete with other age groups for economic resources and power. In preindustrial societies, all hands were utilized. So, elderly got a fair share of the resources. The elderly are believed to to have valuable knowledge about practices and history.
In industrial societies, however, there are often more workers than necessary. These societies replace elderly workers, who cost more, with younger ones. Forced retirement is one of the ways the more powerful age groups remove elderly competitors. Dominant groups use discrimination as their weapon. Older people are often stereotyped as intellectually dull, close-minded, and unproductive. Because of these stereotypes, young workers force retirement and are able to find jobs easier.
Symbolic Interactionism
Ageism is created from negative stereotypes. Symbolic interactionists believe children learn negative images of older people. Negative images of older people have been observed in children as young as three. Stereotypes of older people are inaccurate. Many elderly are not senile, or forgetful. Most elderly are able to learn new things or adapt to change.
Functionalists believe elderly people are treated according to the role of aged play in their society. In many societies, ageism is not an issue. Elderly people are treated with great respect and honor in most societies. In agricultural societies, elderly men play important roles, such as priest or elder. In early colonial America, no stigma was attached to age. It was believed God looked with favor on those who reached old age. In the 1600s, people wore clothing that made them appear older.
Attitudes about aging have changed greatly as industrialization changed the nature of work. It is believed that younger workers are more likely to possess the current skills needed in the workplace. Older people lack the wisdom that is now highly valued.
The loss of status with older age may be to blame for the increase in suicide rates for men of retirement age. Men are believed to be strong with work, and retirement denies them that value.
Conflict Theory
Conflict theorists believe competition for scarce resources is to blame for ageism. Elderly people compete with other age groups for economic resources and power. In preindustrial societies, all hands were utilized. So, elderly got a fair share of the resources. The elderly are believed to to have valuable knowledge about practices and history.
In industrial societies, however, there are often more workers than necessary. These societies replace elderly workers, who cost more, with younger ones. Forced retirement is one of the ways the more powerful age groups remove elderly competitors. Dominant groups use discrimination as their weapon. Older people are often stereotyped as intellectually dull, close-minded, and unproductive. Because of these stereotypes, young workers force retirement and are able to find jobs easier.
Symbolic Interactionism
Ageism is created from negative stereotypes. Symbolic interactionists believe children learn negative images of older people. Negative images of older people have been observed in children as young as three. Stereotypes of older people are inaccurate. Many elderly are not senile, or forgetful. Most elderly are able to learn new things or adapt to change.
Age Discrimination
Age has become another basis for social ranking. Sociologists are now interested in age stratification, the unequal distribution of scarce resources based on age. This discrimination is called ageism, a set of beliefs, attitudes and values used to justify age based prejudice. Studies have shown older people are being affected most.
Political Inequality
Women appear to be participating in elective politics at an increasing rate. Recently, the number of female governors, attorney generals, and mayors have been growing. Some increases have occurred at the national level as well. Although women constitute more than half of the population, they hold a small portion of important political positions. Women occupy only 13.8% of the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Women in Congress have seldom risen to positions of power. The record for women in appointed offices are also small. President Clinton was the first to appoint women to a cabinet. President Regan was the first to appoint a women as Supreme Court justice. To this day, only a small percentage of federal judges are women. The number of women holding public office in the United States is among the lowest in the Western world.
Economic Inequality
We face a wide discrepancy between the earnings of American women and men. Women now work seven days to earn as much as men do in five days. In almost every occupation, men's earning power defeats women. This is true even for women who have pursued careers on a full-time basis for all of their adult lives. Men in female-dominated occupations still tend to make more than the women.
Women in the United States do not fare well economically compared with women in other developed countries. This comparison is based on earning power, or what women earn compared to men. Although the United States in not at the bottom of the inequality list, we are closer to the bottom than that top.
Occupational Inequality
Biological determinism is often used to label people as inferior. This has recently led to racism and sexism. Sexism occurs when certain beliefs, attitudes and values are used to justify gender inequality. Minorities are hurt with racism, while women are being hurt with sexism. Sexist ideology, the belief that men are superior to women, is being used to justify men's leadership and power positions in the economic, social and political spheres of society. Only a few women hold key positions typically reserved for men. Examinations shows many gaps in social rights, privileges, and rewards for women in the United States.
Throughout the last thirty years, there has been a major increase in the number of women in the workforce. The greatest change in patterns involves married women with children under six years of age.
Women are participating in the labor force at increasing levels, but they are in lower status occupations. This is know as occupational sex segregation. Women occupy nearly all of the pink collared jobs -secretaries, clerks, stenographers- whose purpose is to support the higher up occupational ladder.
Throughout the last thirty years, there has been a major increase in the number of women in the workforce. The greatest change in patterns involves married women with children under six years of age.
Women are participating in the labor force at increasing levels, but they are in lower status occupations. This is know as occupational sex segregation. Women occupy nearly all of the pink collared jobs -secretaries, clerks, stenographers- whose purpose is to support the higher up occupational ladder.
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