Distinguish chronological, functional, and subjective measures of age. Explain and evaluate age cohorts. Explain the intersections between age and other sour

Lecture 08 – Sources of Diversity – Age

Diversity in American Society

Learning Objectives

Students who complete this lecture have the information to complete the following

tasks:

Define age.

Distinguish chronological, functional, and subjective measures of age.

Explain and evaluate age cohorts.

Explain the intersections between age and other sources of identity.

What is age?

• Age is a measure of the amount of time a person has lived.

• Chronological age is the length of time from birth.

• Functional age is the ability and behavior of a person relative to established age norms.

• Subjective age is how young or old a person feels.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Childhood Adolescence Adult Middle-Age Elder

“Acting Your Age”

"Immature" "Normal" "Mature"

Age Cohorts

• Age cohorts are a group of people born around the same time period from a particular population that share certain life events and experiences over their life course.

• The establishment of age cohorts based on “…certain life events and experiences…” are an indication of how social changes affect how people are perceived based on their age.

• Age cohorts become a common source of stereotypes.

Age Cohorts and Subject Age

• Chronological Age Cohorts

• “The Greatest Generation”

• Pre-1928

• “The Silent Generation”

• Born 1928-1945

• “Baby Boomers”

• Born 1946-1965

• “Generation X”

• Born 1965-1980

• “Millennials”

• Born 1981-1996

• “Generation Z”

• Born 1997-2012

Intersections with Age

Intersections with Age

• There are several intersections between age and ethnicity, nationality, and race.

• How are the young and elderly perceived in your culture?

• When can you legally participate in your nation’s politics by voting or holding office?

• What is the average life expectancy for individuals of different races?

• …

Review

• Use the following questions to assess your understanding of the information within this lecture:

• What is the difference between chronological, functional, and subjective age?

• What are age cohorts?

• In what ways does age intersect with sex, gender, and sexual orientation?

• In what ways does age intersect with race, ethnicity, and nationality?

QUESTION 1

1. Select the following statements that would be an example of ageism.

A younger person is told that they do not have the experience to hold a position of upper management within their workplace because they are "too young," even though they have demonstrated the skills and abilities to do the job.

Passing laws that ensure that children are not exploited as workers or laborers by those who would take advantage of their vulnerability.

Promoting anti-aging products and services that mask or hide the typical physical changes that coincide with aging so that a person can be considered "beautiful."

Members of an older generation proclaim that the common interests and activities of those in younger generations are of inherently less quality than their own interests and activities.

A person who has all the qualifications for a job is denied a position to which they applied because the employer says that they are "not a good culture fit."

A person sees someone who is older using a walker to assist with their mobility and assumes that their mobility issues are caused by their age.

An organization is developed to ensure that the rights and opportunities of those who are older are protected because older members within a society are likely to be targets of abuse and exploitation.

A young adult forgets the keys to their car as the leave the house and proclaims that they've had "a senior moment," asserting that forgetfulnesses is something that only old people do.

QUESTION 2

Ask at least 10 different people at what age a person is considered "old," and have them explain what

characteristics they typically associated with being "old." Then, calculate the mean "old age" by dividing

the sum of their responses by 10 (the total number of people who you asked) and make note of any

common characteristics cited by your respondents of what it means to be "old." In at least one paragraph

5-6 sentences , describe the results of your survey and explain what you think that information means.

QUESTION 3

Ask at least 10 different people at what age a person is no longer considered "young," and have them

explain what characteristics they typically associated with being "young." Then, calculate the

mean "young age threshold" by dividing the sum of their responses by 10 (the total number of people who

you asked) and make note of any common characteristics cited by your respondents regarding what it

means to be "young." In at least one paragraph 5-6 sentences, describe the results of your survey and

explain what you think that information means.

QUESTION 4

In at least one paragraph 5-6 sentences, identify and describe one way in which individuals can challenge

ageism in their everyday lives.