Notes for a radical gerontology

The predominant theoretical perspectives in social gerontology reflect a normative bias toward adjustment of aging individuals to the society. This bias is reinforced through the methodological predelictions of most gerontologists. We outline the premises of a radical scholarship for gerontology which would provide an alternative, illustrating from selected works. A radical scholorship in gerontology would avoid the individualistic and adjustment biases, and would recognize that life in society is characterized by conflict, negotiation and compromise over politico-economic and other interests. Methodologically, it would seek to explicate the interests and aspirations of the aged in their own terms, and as relevant in the socio-historical context.