topic 3b - sociological explanations for age inequality

what are the functionalist explanations for age inequality

• disengagement theory (parsons)

• stages of transition (eisenstadt)

• role allocation theory (davis and moore)

• meritocracy (young)

disengagement theory - parsons

• older people actively disengage from some social roles, leaving them for younger people to pick up

• allows industrial society to operate using nuclear family where clear roles are defined

criticism of disengagement theory

marxist: castles and kossack

• older people do not choose to disengage, but are scapegoated by media and seen as less valuable to society

• negative labelling is only functional to ruling class

stages of transition - eisenstadt

• children begin to develop independence from family during adolescence

• youth culture involves rebellion against parental discipline which can create a transitional culture within youth

• benefit in long term

• likely to avoid roles needing commitment and maturity during transitional period, don’t reap great economic rewards

criticism of stages of transition

weberian: parkin

• inequality is a result of exclusion strategies from older members of society such as lower minimum wage for young people

role allocation theory - davis and moore

• young people beginning career, still have to rise up, so paid less

• fairly allocated role based on their limited skills/experience

criticism of role allocation theory

marxist: marx

• young people’s low income is the result of capitalist exploitation

• they don’t own means of labour therefore become victims of capitalist system, exploited with low pay and bad working conditions

• difficult for young people to develop skills which make them functionally unique

meritocracy - young

• young and old have less income because they have less merit

• young people are less trained, so less skill and deserve less rewards

criticism of meritocracy

marxist: castles and kossack

• young people don’t receive appropriate reward compared to skill and effort

• ruling class deliberately exclude young people from gaining access to senior roles and wealth

what are the marxist explanations of age inequality

• reserve army of labour (castles and kossack)

• scapegoating (castles and kossack)

• capitalist exploitation (marx)

• cultural capital (bourdeiu)

reserve army of labour - castles and kossack

• old and young people used as reserve army of labour

• state benefits withheld until 25

• majority of gig economy are 16 - 30

criticism of reserve army of labour

functionalist: eisenstadt

• youth in stages of transition, not willing to commit to a career

scapegoating - castles and kossack

• when society is troubled by severe socioeconomic problems, widespread frustration can arise

• bourgeoise use elderly as scapegoats, blamed for being needy, drain on society, lack of resources

• seen as second class citizens

criticism of scapegoating

functionalist: young

• old people lack merit, can be a drain on societal resources once they are out of work and not contributing to the economy

capitalist exploitation - marx

• bourgeoise (own means of production) and proletariat (workers)

• youth not likely to own means of production, members of proletariat

• control superstructure, convincing us that inequalities are natural and youth are less worthy, therefore lower minimum wage justifiable

criticism of capitalist exploitation marx

weber:

• two class model oversimplifies differences between workers

• some young people own means of production (ben francis, owner of gymshark)

• some old people are bourgeoise (lord sugar)

cultural capital - bourdeiu

• inequality due to differing levels of cultural capital

• old people more likely to be in power, cultural knowledge may be dominant

• youth culture may be less valuable in workplace

criticism of cultural capital

postmodernist: berry

• digital divide

• old people disadvantaged in workplace which is become more digitalised (online meetings etc)

what are the weberian explanations of age inequality

• multiple factors of inequality (weber)

• dual labour market theory (barron and norris)

• usurpation and exclusion strategies (parkin)

• divided society (hutton)

multiple factors of inequality - weber

• old and youth tend to be ascribed lower power + status in society

• less valuable because of cultural stereotypes (china old people seen as valuable, age brings wisdom + experience)

• british society youth seen as inexperienced and old seen as vulnerable leading to lower status

criticism of multiple factors of inequality

marxist:

• too complicated

• de emphasises similarities between workers

dual labour market theory - barron and norris

• primary sector: well paying jobs, middle age dominate

• secondary sector: poor pay, old and young dominate

• very difficult to move from secondary to primary

criticism of dual labour market theory

new right: murray

• inadequate parenting has led to culture of dependency in youth

• youth in secondary sector because they choose low paid, low skilled part time work

usurpation and exclusion strategies - parkin

• social closure explains why old people are blocked from promotions and jobs

• exclusion strategy used by groups wanting to protect their privileges so insist certain criteria to restrict people joining

• usurpation strategy used to try and grab some privileges of others

criticism of social closure strategies

functionalist: davis and moore

• elderly lower position in labour market reflects their lower skill set

• youth also do not have the right skills yet

divided 40/30/30 society - hutton

• bottom 30%, unemployed,economically inactive , likely to be youth or elderly

• 30% on zero hour contracts, part time

• 40% secure jobs, trade unions, middle aged

what are the new right explanations of age inequality

• underclass and snowflakes (piers morgan)

• the bell curve (murray and herrnstein)

underclass and snowflakes - piers morgan (+dennis and erdos)

• young people in today’s society have weaker values than older generation

• so earn less

• snowflakes: they are self centred, lack resilience and oversensitive

criticism of snowflakes

marxist:

• system failure allows young people to be paid less

• young given fewer opportunities

• young are poorer because they are stuck in a system that exploits them

the bell curve - murray and herrnstein

• people born today more divided than previous generations

• cognitive elite intermarry and produce children with higher IQ

• those with lower IQ struggle parenting and pass lower IQ to children

criticism of the bell curve

marxist: bourdieu

• almost impossible to create an IQ test unrelated to cultural capital