The Aged: A Social Minority

1
The Aged A Social Minority

• Unequal treatment in the form of
• Prejudice
• Discrimination
• Physical traits that set them apart from the
  dominant group
• Involuntary status
• Group solidarity
• In-group marriage

2
Who Are the Elderly?

• The elderly are more likely to be
• 1.Female
• 2.White
• 3. Living in certain states (California in
  absolute numbers but proportionately higher in
  Florida, Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri
  and the Dakotas)
• Increased growth in the elderly population over
  the next three decades

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Figure 17-1 Actual and Projected Growth of the
Elderly Population of the U.S.
4
Who Are the Elderly?

• Ageism - systematic subordination, discrimination
  and prejudice directed towards the elderly
• Stereotyping - elderly are often stereotyped
• Seen as incompetent, senile, ill, weak, slow
  forgetful etc.

5
Who Are the Elderly?

• Elderly and discrimination
• Employment discrimination
• Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
  1968

6
The Economic Picture

• Variation in the economic well-being of the
  elderly
• Gender
• Race/Ethnicity
• Social class
• Poverty rate has declined among the elderly

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Figure 17-2 Poverty Rate Among the Elderly, 2003
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Advocacy Efforts by the Elderly

• Maggie Kuhn and the Gray Panthers - organization
  to fight against ageism and the rights of the
  elderly
• Older Womens League - health insurance, Social
  Security and pension reform
• American Association of Retired Persons - lobby
  and works on a number of issues of interest for
  the elderly

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People With Disabilities

• Disability defined- reduced ability to perform a
  normal task at a given stage in life
• The number of disabled will increase
• Advances in medicine
• Aging and disabilities
• Disabilities cut across a number of social
  boundaries
• Higher rates among ethnic and racial minorities
• Severity of disabilities varies

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Labeling the Disabled

• Labeling the disabled - disability becomes the
  primary factor in how others define the disabled
• Disability is only one aspect and social role of
  the disabled
• The media contributes to popular negative
  images of people with disabilities

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Labeling the Disabled

• Discrimination- society is not organized around
  those with disabilities
• Architectural barriers
• Educational barriers
• Employment barriers

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Advocacy for Rights of the Disabled

• Ed Roberts and others established the Berkeley
  Center for Independent Living
• National Federation for the Blind - single group
  organizations (Blind Organization)
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1992
• Civil Rights view of disabilities
• Humanize the way society treats the disabled

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Gays and Lesbians Coming Out for Equality

• Homophobia - fear and prejudice toward
  homosexuals and homosexuality
• The issue of AIDS in the gay community
• AIDS movement AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power
• Gay bashing and hate crimes
• Stigma of (homosexuality) gays and lesbians
• Negative stereotypes

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Gays and Lesbians Coming Out For Equality

• Discrimination and
• family rights
• housing rights
• healthcare rights
• employment rights

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Advocacy for Gay and Lesbian Rights

• First homosexual organization (1924) founded in
  Chicago
• Contemporary gay and lesbian movement started in
  New York in 1969
• Police and Gay confrontation in a New York bar
• Led to rioting
• Formation of groups to fight discrimination
• Gay liberation groups on college campuses and
  communities

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Advocacy for Gay and Lesbian Rights

• Dont ask dont tell military policy of the
  Clinton administration
• Senior Action in a Gay Environment (Sage)
  established in Manhattan in 1978( Social
  Organization for Elderly gay and lesbians)
• Domestic partnership issues through the courts

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Figure 17-4 Recent Changes in Schooling, Income,
and Life Expectancy
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Figure 17-5 The Image of Diversity from Census
2000
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Present and Future

• Glass half full optimists
• Glass half empty pessimists
• What does the future hold in store for ethnic,
  racial and other subordinate group struggles for
  equality?