Bellwork

• What is old age?

• How does life change when a person is old?

Ageism

Views on aging

• Different societies view aging differently.• Pre-Industrial societies:– Social Standing Increases as one ages

• Industrial and Post Industrial Societies– Middle-Aged people hold the most power.

Ageism

• The belief that one age category is by nature superior to another age category.– Often directed toward elderly people.– Can be seen in elderly stereotypes.

The Aging World• By 2050 the world’s population

over the age of 60 will rise from 600 million to 2 billion.

• “The Graying of America”– By 2050 nearly 20% of the US

population will be over age 65.– Why?• Better living conditions and health

care• High birth rates since 1946 (Baby

Boom)

The Graying of America

The Politics of Aging• More elderly people have political

power.– Higher numbers = more voters– AARP

• Concerns for elderly citizens– Dependency ratio and Social

Security• The number of workers for each person

receiving social security benefits.– 5-1 in 1960 to 2-1 in 1998, still dropping.

– Medicare and Medicaid

Americans with DisAbilities• Many elderly Americans also

are treated differently because they often have disabilities.– 33 million Americans have severe

disabilities.• ADA– Americans with Disabilities Act-

1990• Prevents discrimination of disabled

people

Age Inequality?

• Read page 276- Age Inequality in the US– How does social inequality affect Americans 65

years of age and older?