Deck 5: Inequality Based on Age

Question 1

Social gerontology focuses on the biological and physical aspects of aging.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The line between childhood and adolescence first came into existence in the 18^th century during the Industrial Revolution.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The period of life between ages 18 and 25 is known as young adulthood.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Organizations that provide homelike or home-based care for the terminally ill are referred to as hospices.

Question 5

Many sociologists believe that elder abuse goes underreported because victims are afraid or ashamed to report their victimization.

Question 6

Older people are more likely to be victims of violent crime than persons in other age categories.

Question 7

The United States population is getting younger.

Question 8

The older the population, the lower the dependency ratio.

Question 9

Ageism has diminished in the United States through media presentations that have brought a greater awareness of the talents and capabilities of older persons.

Question 10

According to the text, women and men don't always experience middle age in a similar manner.

Question 11

Which of the following terms was introduced by sociologist Robert Butler to describe misconceptions and myths that lead to age-based discrimination?

A) elder abuse
B) ageism
C) elderism
D) oldism

Question 12

In regard to problems associated with age-based stereotypes,

A) stereotypes apply only to the elderly.
B) stereotypes overplay positive traits of the elderly.
C) there are more stereotypes about physical and mental abilities of the elderly than other age categories.
D) stereotypes avoid derogatory remarks about people's age, race, gender, or sexual orientation because everyone has a constitutional right to freedom of speech.

Question 13

The study of the life course primarily involves

A) an examination of the age-based categories through which people pass as they grow older.
B) the biological, physical, and social aspects of being old.
C) developmental processes in infancy and childhood.
D) how the media portrays the elderly.

Question 14

The life expectancy at birth in the U.S. is

A) 72.
B) 74.
C) 76.
D) 78.

Question 15

Wrinkles, gray hair, and other signs of the aging process that occurs in middle age are known as

A) senescence.
B) initial aging.
C) secondary aging.
D) tertiary aging.

Question 16

Which of the following statements most accurately describes later maturity in the United States?

A) This stage of the life course does not differ dramatically from middle age.
B) Many people in later maturity find themselves caring for people of their own age and older individuals, especially their elderly parents.
C) Old age is considered to begin in this stage of the life course.
D) None of these statements accurately describes later maturity.

Question 17

Most people have left paid employment by which age?

A) 60
B) 65
C) 70
D) 75

Question 18

According to social gerontologists, the primary reason most people deny they are aging is because they

A) do not want their friends and children to think of them as "old."
B) do not feel "old."
C) associate old age with death and want to deny its reality.
D) deny many things in life.

Question 19

Concerning how people cope with dying, which approach identified four common phases of grief as resilience, recovery, chronic dysfunction, and delayed grief or trauma?

A) stage-based approach
B) dying trajectory approach
C) trajectories of grief approach
D) task-based approach

Question 20

Concerning how people cope with dying, which approach identified three common stages of grief: the acute phase, the chronic phase, and the terminal phase?

A) trajectories of grief approach
B) stage-based approach
C) task-based approach
D) dying trajectory approach

Question 21

Sociologists refer to inequalities, differences, segregation, or conflict between age groups as

A) the generation gap.
B) age discrimination.
C) age stratification.
D) the graying of America.

Question 22

Among the industries with the highest number of older employees are

A) food and beverage companies.
B) media companies.
C) airlines, utilities, and insurance companies.
D) government-sponsored companies.

Question 23

Among most African Americans and Latinos/as, the retirement process is

A) virtually identical to that of white/Anglo retirees.
B) different because prior racial discrimination in the workplace has diminished the opportunities for minority group members to invest in pension plans or save large sums of money toward retirement.
C) extremely limited because few have any pension plan or receive Social Security or other retirement benefits.
D) similar for both women and men over age 65.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is correct regarding government-funded health care for older persons in the United States?

A) Medicare is a welfare program in which recipients of benefits often have not paid anything to be covered.
B) Medicaid provides wide-scale coverage for older people that gives them unrestricted amounts of skilled nursing care and home health services.
C) Medicare is an entitlement program in which recipients of benefits have paid something in order to be covered.
D) Medicare and Medicaid are welfare programs that are facing large budget cuts.

Question 25

Most deaths of older individuals are from

A) malnutrition.
B) chronic illness or disease.
C) violent crime.
D) AIDS.

Question 26

Older people who live in communities that provide amenities such as housekeeping, dining facilities, and transportation services reside in

A) congregate housing.
B) nursing homes.
C) primary housing.
D) government-funded housing.

Question 27

The perspective that suggests that older people want to be released from societal expectations as they grow older is known as

A) retirement theory.
B) activity theory.
C) disengagement theory.
D) conflict theory.

Question 28

According to interactionist perspectives on aging and inequality,

A) older people want to be released from societal expectations and they continue to be productive and competitive.
B) disengagement is functional for society and for older persons.
C) older persons who are active are happier and better adjusted than less active older persons.
D) class constitutes a structural barrier to older people's access to valued resources in society.

Question 29

According to functionalist perspectives on aging and inequality,

A) dramatic changes in such social institutions as the family and religion have influenced how people view aging.
B) older people must deny the existence of old age by maintaining middle-aged lifestyles for as long as possible.
C) aging itself is not a social problem.
D) aging creates greater problems for some women than for men.

Question 30

Role and exchange theories are based on which perspective?

A) functionalist
B) symbolic interactionist
C) conflict
D) feminist

Question 31

The view that age-based inequality is rooted in power differentials is from which perspective?

A) ageist
B) symbolic interactionist
C) functionalist
D) conflict

Question 32

Which of the following is a reason that emerging adulthood developed as a life phase?

A) Completing sufficient education is taking less time than ever before.
B) Women feel less pressured to marry.
C) The number of available entry-level jobs is at an all-time high.
D) The drinking age in the U.S. remains at 21.

Question 33

The concept of life expectancy is based upon a mathematical

A) mode.
B) range.
C) median.
D) average.

Question 34

Why is the poverty rate for people 65 and over relatively low?

A) Few elderly are mentally ill.
B) The elderly population is increasing.
C) The elderly population is decreasing.
D) Government programs have reduced poverty.

Question 35

Why is death associated with old age more than in the past?

A) Modern scientific understanding allows us to understand when death occurs.
B) Most major religious groups associate death with old age.
C) Medical technology has advanced life expectancy.
D) Political movements have contributed to this association.

Question 36

What percentage of dollars spent on health care is spent on people age 65 and older?

A) 25%
B) 33%
C) 50%
D) 75%

Question 37

Based on the conflict perspective on aging and inequality, we can infer that

A) abolishing the capitalist system would reduce age-based inequalities in the United States.
B) doing away with compulsory retirement would reduce income inequality typically experienced by older people.
C) ending costly government programs such as Social Security and Medicare would benefit not only younger workers but older people as well.
D) there should no longer be required roles for older people in industrialized, urbanized societies, thus providing them with greater opportunities to enjoy retirement.

Question 38

Why won't technology bring about greater equality and freedom for all older people?

A) Technology has not advanced enough to provide more equality and freedom.
B) Not all older people can pay for technological advances.
C) Technology to aid older individuals is not being developed.
D) Most older people living alone do not need home accessibility features provided by technology.

Question 39

When AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) promotes and lobbies for certain legislation that will benefit senior citizens, the organization is participating in solutions for age inequality that are based upon which perspective?

A) feminist
B) symbolic interactionist
C) conflict
D) functionalist

Question 40

Social analysts exploring opportunities for female actors over forty versus opportunities for male actors over forty are based in what perspective?

A) ageist
B) feminist
C) functionalist
D) symbolic interactionist

Question 41

Is America prepared to deal with an aging population? If so, why and how? If not, what are the necessary changes needed to deal with the challenges to come?

Question 42

Describe how the problems of older adults differ from those of younger people. Explain how government programs have sought to reduce some of the problems associated with growing older in the United States. Note how these programs may change in the future.

Question 43

Based on your knowledge of an older friend or family member, compare and contrast disengagement and activity theories. Which best fits your perceptions and why?

Question 44

Discuss some of the major problems experienced by infants, children, and adolescents in the United States. How can these problems be reduced? What role, if any, should the city, state, and federal government play in seeking to alleviate these problems?

Question 45

Identify the four explanations cited by the text concerning how people cope with dying. What other approaches can you suggest for coping with death and dying? Explain your answer.