as sociology
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AS Sociology. Topic 6 – Age identities. Middle Age. Victor – (2005) associated with people in the 40s and 50s, Norms and values centred around the family and work, Bradley – tend to have a high status in society, - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
AS Sociology Topic 6 – Age identities
Middle Age Victor – (2005) associated with people in the 40s
and 50s, Norms and values centred around the family and
work, Bradley – tend to have a high status in society, Middle age seen as a time for reflection and
evaluation – past, present and future (middle age crisis)
Socialisation process in middle age Difficulties in identifying common norms and values, Middle age people seen to be negotiating both elder parents
and teenage children so the family seen as important agent of socialisation,
Middle aged people also seen to be at the peak of their careers thus work is also considered a key agent of socialisation.
Socialisation process in middle age Media, religion, and peers are seen to have varying levels of
influence on the middle aged with regards to their life choices at that stage,
Blaikie identifies this period as associated with the following concepts:
1. Maturity, 2. Independence, 3. Responsibility.
OLD AGE
OLD AGE
People are not considered old until later in life – why? See p.95
What do you think ? Individually, write 10 words which you associate with old
people, Compare those with the ones written by the person seated
next to you, Which of the words you have both written can be seen as
positive and negative.
Feedback
VICTOR argues:
stereotypes surrounding old age are mostly negative
e.g. low status, loneliness, ill health, dependency
But many reject these stereotypes – eg. are sexually active, new partners
learning new skills
MEDIARole models in the media are limited / negative eg. helpless, ill, unhappy, cross
MEDIAIn recent years more positive role models have emerged (link to younger-old)eg?
FAMILYInfantilisation – what is this? See p.96
Decline of extended family – how does this effect old people?
WORKOften rejected because don’t work
Gannon argues that women are doubly discriminated against in old age – how?
RELIGIONBruce – why might older people need religion as a ‘cultural defence’? See p.96
Malinowski – what is the function of religion for the old?
PEERSWhy might women in particular fear isolation from peers in old age?
(see p. 96 – Arber and Ginn)
21st century elderly ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZjljqReu1I
Reading Task
Read through key study 10 in your pack and create a battenburg diagram.