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Status, Age, and Gender: Perceptions of Old and Young People1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Ian D. Graham  and
Paul M. Baker
Ian D. Graham
Affiliation:
University of Victoria
Paul M. Baker
Affiliation:
University of Victoria
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Abstract

Several writers have suggested that there is an inverted U-curve of status or prestige across the lifespan in Western society. The old and the young are apparently accorded less status than persons in midlife, and women are seen as having less status than men.

In this study of 198 older individuals (mean age 67), the same inverted U-curve was found, but gender differences were very small. Much less extreme status ratings were given by this older sample than by the earlier samples of young adults. Also, status ratings were again mostly unaffected by respondents' characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, or social class. Older adults, therefore, seem to accept the broad cultural views of age stratification, but are slightly more egalitarian than the young.

Résumé

Plusieurs auteurs ont suggéré la présence d'une courbe-U invertie au niveau du statut ou du prestige pendant la durée d'une vie dans les pays occidentaux. Le statut accordé aux jeunes et aux vieux serait inférieur à celui des personnes d'âge moyen et les femmes se verraient accorder un statut inférieur à celui des hommes.

Dans cette étude qui regroupe 198 personnes d'âge avancé, (moyenne d'âge 67) la présence de la courbe-U invertie est vérifiée, cependant les différences entre les deux sexes sont minimes. Cet échantillon comprenant des gens d'âge avancé fournit des notations de statut beaucoup moins extrêmes que celles rendues par d'autres échantillons regroupant des jeunes adultes. En plus, ces notations ne sont relativement pas influencées par les caractéristiques des participants, tel l'âge, le sexe, la situation de famille, ou le niveau social. En conclusion, les adultes d'âge avancé semblent accepter une notion culturelle générale sur la stratification des âges, mais ils sont légèrement plus égalitaires que les jeunes.

Keywords

Prestigestereotypesattitudesageismhumans
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , Fall/automne 1989 , pp. 255 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1989

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