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Roles for aged individuals in post-industrial societies.
1Department of Sociology and Social Work, Indiana State University.
International Journal of Aging & Human Development
|January 1, 1990
Summary
The status of older adults historically follows an S-curve, not a simple inverse relationship with industrialization. Early societies and post-industrial eras may see higher status for the elderly compared to industrialized periods.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sociology
- Anthropology
Background:
- The "Aging and Modernization" theory posits an inverse relationship between industrialization and the status of older persons.
- This theory suggests increased industrialization leads to decreased social standing for the elderly.
Observation:
- Historical and anthropological research reveals a more complex pattern in the status of older individuals over time.
- This pattern deviates from the simple inverse relationship predicted by modernization theory.
Findings:
- The status of the elderly appears to follow an "S-curve" trajectory throughout history.
- Low status is observed in early nomadic societies, rising in settled agricultural communities.
- Status declines in industrialized societies and is projected to rise again in the post-industrial era.
Implications:
- Revising sociological and gerontological models to incorporate a nuanced, non-linear understanding of aging and societal change.
- Understanding historical trends can inform policies and social structures to better support older populations in contemporary and future societies.
- The post-industrial shift may offer opportunities to re-evaluate and improve the social standing of the elderly.