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SOC1023G Social Problems: Unit 5 Youth and the Old

Explore the social context of age in Unit 5, focusing on age grading, aging issues, and the Sandwich Generation's responsibilities toward youth and elders. Learn about ageism, disengagement theory, and symbolic interactions among different age groups.

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SOC1023G Social Problems: Unit 5 Youth and the Old

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  1. SOC1023G Social Problems:Unit 5Youth and the Old © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  2. Unit 5:Young and the Old References Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (1997). Understanding social problems. Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth. Mooney, L. A., Knox, D., & Schacht, C. (2000). Understanding social problems (2nd ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Wadsworth. © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  3. Devotions Taking Care of the Elderly . . . Moses gave you this law from God: “Honor your father and mother.” And he said that anyone who speaks against his father or mother must die. But you say it is perfectly all right for a man to disregard his needy parents, telling them, “Sorry, I can’t help you! For I have given to God what I could have given to you.” And so you break the law of God in order to protect your man-made tradition. . . Jesus is speaking Mark 7:10b-12 (The Living Bible) © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  4. Devotions Respecting Youth Don’t let anyone think little of you because you are young. Be their ideal; let them follow the way you teach and live; be a pattern for them in your love, your faith, and your clean thoughts. Paul is speaking I Timothy 4:12 (The Living Bible) © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  5. Devotions Caring for the Little Children Once when some mothers were bringing their children to Jesus to bless them, the disciples shooed them away, telling them not to bother him. But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very much displeased with his disciples and said to them, “Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away!” . . . Then he took the children into his arms and placed his hands on their heads and he blessed them. Jesus is speaking Mark 10:13-14, 16 (The Living Bible) © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  6. Unit 5:Young and the Old Social Context of Age • Age determines one’s life experiences since the date of birth determines the historical period in which a person lives • Different ages are associated with different developmental stages (physiological, psychological, and social) and abilities © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  7. Unit 5:Young and the Old • Age defines roles and expectations of behavior • “Act your age” • Age influences the social groups to which one belongs • Age defines legal status • 16 driver’s license, 18 vote, 65 Social Security © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  8. Unit 5:Young and the Old Age Grading • Childhood • The period of childhood in our society is from birth through age 17 and is often subdivided into infancy, childhood, and adolescence • Adulthood • The period from age 18 through 64 is generally subdivided into young adulthood, adulthood, and middle age © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  9. Unit 5:Young and the Old • Elderhood • At age 65 one is likely to be considered elderly, a category that is often subdivided into the young-old, old, and old-old National Data The old-old (85 and over) are the fastest growing segment of the elderly, increasing their numbers by 274% between 1960 and 1994 © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  10. Unit 5:Young and the Old Sandwich Generation • Baby boomers are members of this group • The generation that has the responsibilities of simultaneously caring for their children and their aging parents © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  11. Unit 5:Young and the Old Ageism • A belief that age is associated with certain psychological, behavioral, and/or intellectual traits • A person’s age is used to define abilities, opportunities, and appropriateness of social roles and may result in stereotyping, discrimination, and prejudice. • Usually directed at the young and the old © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  12. Unit 5:Young and the Old: Structural-Functionalist Perspective (Order Paradigm) Disengagement Theory • A balanced society is achieved whereby the various age groups perform their respective functions • The young go to school • The adults fill occupational roles • The elderly, with obsolete skills and knowledge, disengage © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  13. Unit 5:Young and the Old: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (Pluralist Paradigm) Infantilizing Elders • The media portrays the elderly as childlike • Clothes • Facial expressions • Temperament • Activities • Young and old are paired together in childish situations © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  14. Unit 5:Young and the Old: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (Pluralist Paradigm) What symbols are attributed to the elderly that create a desire in you to be over 65? Which symbol is stronger -- youth or old age? Are these symbols universal in all cultures? © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  15. Unit 5:Young and the Old: Symbolic Interactionist Perspective (Pluralist Paradigm) Gerontophobia • A shared fear or dread of the elderly, which may create a self-fulfilling prophecy • An elderly person forgets something, they attribute it old age -- a young person exhibits the same behavior but it is treated as a normal part of life © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  16. Unit 5:Young and the Old: Conflict Perspective (Conflict Paradigm) Young and Old • The young and the old are not important elements in a capitalistic society • The young are a liability until they reach the productive young adulthood stage • The old are no longer a contributing asset to society--they become a liability that drains resources Therefore, they do have as much societal power as the adulthood stage of age grading © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  17. Unit 5:Young and the Old New Ageism • Refers to viewing the elderly as a burden on the economy and, specifically, on the youth of America. Younger workers are concerned that the size and number of benefits given to the elderly, particularly as the baby boomers move through the ranks, will drain the Social Security system. • In 1984, some people, concerned that children and the poor were suffering at the hands of the elderly, formed American for Generational Equality (AGE). © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  18. Unit 5:Young and the Old Regarding health benefits, the federal government spends more on health care for the elderly during their last year of life than on all the health care needs of children---eleven times as much money on those 65 and over as on those under the age of 18. (Hewlett 1992 in Mooney, Knox, and Schacht 1997:170-171) © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  19. Unit 5:Young and the Old Dr. Bolender’s Prediction • Within your working life (after 2015 AD), there will be a generational war (well at least a battle)---a conflict of the working young and the retired elderly. • When will it happen? During a normal business cycle---when the United States’ economy goes into an extended recession. © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

  20. Unit 5:Young and the Old Can if be prevented? A good example of proactively preventing a social problem from developing through a combination of adjusted governmental social policies. Currently, a political landmine. © 1998-2002 by Ronald Keith Bolender

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