ageng population

What is the ageing population and 2 main causes

• definition = older age groups are growing as a proportion of the total population while younger age groups are shrinking.

• Cause 1 = increased life expectancy - people are living longer than expected

• Cause 2 = falling birth rates - fewer younger people are born

• Cause 3 = declining infant mortality - nowadays hardly anyone dies early in life

Impact 1 - changes in family structure - beanpole family

• Brannen argue families are now thinner and longer

• Longer = more generations alive - great grandparents etc

• Thinner = fewer people in each generation - 1-2 children

• Replaced wider extended families - lots of aunts and uncles

• Effect - stronger links between generations , less contact with side relatives

Impact 2 - changed role of grandparents

• huge active role - free childcare for parents working , financial helps , emotional support in the house

• Silver economy - elderly often have savings and property - pass wealth down

• Modified extended family - live apart but keep close contact (willmott and young)

Impact 3 - care burden - sandwich generation ( arber and ginn)

• 70-80% of care work is done by women , daughters, daughter in laws

• Sandwich generation - women aged 40-60 are squeezed between :

• Caring for their own children and caring for elderly parents

• Arber and ginn call this women in the middle - unfair burden

• Feminists argue that unpaid labour results in exploitation, the state should provide care

Impact 4 - financial pressure and dependency ratio

• hirsch

• Dependency ratio = number of non workers compared to workers

• Now fewer workers , many elderly dependent on the state ,

• Hirsch =ageing is a big financial problem - must raise retirement age ,pay more tax and reform pensions

• Family impact = state cannot pay everything , families must pay or give up work to care

Functionalist perspective on ageing population

• good for family

• Grandparents bring wisdom and stability

• Family adapts well and strengthens bonds

New right perspective on ageing population

• family should care for its own And state support = bad, creates dependency

• Policies should encourage family responsibility

Feminist perspective on ageing population

• unfair

• burden falls only on women

• Unpaid work

• Increases gender inequality

Postmodern view on ageing population

• old age = choice and freedoms

• Active independent lifestyle

• No longer burden

• Relationships based on choice not duty