Functionalist age inequality

• Parsons

  Older people actively disengage with some social roles, leaving them for the youth. This process of disengagement is functional as it promotes the idea of the nuclear family where roles are clearly defined. Elderly have less status in US than any other culture, leading them to become isolated.
• Postmodernists such as Featherstone and Hepworth suggest that the elderly are rejecting Parsons's disengagement theory and are still active members of their communities.
• Eisenstadt


  Youth culture involves rebellion from parents. The degree of freedom given to youth can cause problems if young people become deviant, isolated, and have uncertain roles. They benefit from this transitionary period where they can experiment with identity but are more likely to avoid roles which need commitment, which is why they have low economic reward.
• Postmodernist such as Davies reject Eisenstadt's idea as his research shows that most youth had similar values to their parents and the idea of them as rebellious is outdated, most are hard working and ambitious.
• Davis and Moore


  Elderly and youth have lower income due to role allocation theory. Youth are unlikely to have unique skills and experience. Old people's skills are no longer functional for the labour market.
• Neo Marxists such as Gramsci disagree with Davis and Moore, arguing that role allocation theory is a myth created by capitalism to justify inequality. Ageism is used to spread conflict and maintain false class consciousness to stop union and rebellion.
• Young

  We live in a meritocracy so the young and old have less income due to their lack of skill and merit. Young people have less skill due to lack of training and experience so deserve less rewards.