By 2020 there will be equal proportions of the global population that are younger than 5 and older than 65.
It is estimated that by 2050, 16% of the world’s population will be 65 and older, while 6% of the population will be younger than 5.
Ageism
The belief that age is associated with certain psychological, behavioral, and/or intellectual traits.
Modernization Theory
Argues that as a society becomes more technologically advanced, the position of the elderly declines.
Age: Impact on One’s Life
Age defines roles and expectations of behavior.
Age influences the social groups to which one belongs.
Age defines one’s legal status.
Age Grading
The assignment of social roles to different ages.
Although the number of age grades varies by society, most societies make at least three distinctions: childhood, adulthood, and elderhood.
% of U.S. Population in Three Age Groups
12 63 25 2006 20.3 56 23.7 2050 12.4 61.9 25.7 2000 8.2 60.6 31.3 1950 % 65 and Older % 18-64 % Younger than 18 Year
Sandwich Generation
The generation that has the responsibility of simultaneously caring for their children and their aging parents.
Structural Functionalist Perspective
Emphasizes how one part of a social system interacts with other parts to benefit the whole.
Disengagement Theory
The elderly gradually relinquish their roles to younger members of society to maintain the integrity of the social system.
The various age groups perform their respective functions: The young go to school, adults fill occupations, and the elderly disengage.
Activity Theory
The elderly disengage because they are segregated and isolated.
Conflict Perspective
The young and the old have subordinate statuses because they are not productive members of capitalist economy.
Young and old are part of the dependent population.
They are an economic drain on society.
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Focuses on social meanings and definitions associated with age.
Myths and media portrayals of elderly contribute to negative image of elderly and gerontophobia.
Elderly are portrayed as childlike.
Myths and Facts About the Elderly
Most older people have regular contact with friends and family. They are isolated from family members Only 20-25% of the elderly develop Alzheimer's or some other brain disease They are senile.
Less than 5% of elderly are in nursing homes Most are sick and in nursing homes. Fact Myth
Myths and Facts About the Elderly
In 2004, individuals 65 and older were more likely to be registered to vote and/or to vote than any other age group. They are not politically active. Only 19.8% of men and 11.5% of women, 65 and older, are employed, those who continue to work are efficient workers. They are inefficient employees Fact Myth
Myths and Facts About the Elderly
A high proportion of the elderly are flexible in accepting change. They cannot adapt to new working conditions. Many elderly people report active and satisfying sex lives. Sexual satisfaction disappears with age. Fact Myth
Infantilizing Elders
The portrayal of the elderly in the media as childlike in terms of clothes, facial expressions, temperament, and activities.
Gerontophobia - Fear or dread of the elderly.
Child Labor
Involves children performing work that is hazardous, interferes with their education, or harms their health or physical, mental, spiritual, or moral development.
Virtually every country has laws that limit the extent to which children can be employed, yet an estimated 16 out of 100 children worldwide are child laborers.
Each Day In America
1 mother dies in childbirth.
4 children are killed by abuse or neglect.
5 children or teens commit suicide.
8 children or teens are killed by firearms.
77 babies die before their first birthdays.
192 children are arrested for violent crimes.
Each Day In America
383 children are arrested for drug abuse.
906 babies are born at low birth weight.
1,153 babies are born to teen mothers.
1,672 public school students receive corporal punishment.
1,839 babies are born without health insurance.
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