Marxist explanation for age inequality

• Marxist explanation for age inequality


  Reserve army - Necessary part of Capitalism
• Reserve army


  • Some members of society (young and old) are a secondary source of labour
  • This was either the unemployed, or under-employed; however also applied to age groups
  • Age groups can be used as a pool of labour as temporary or flexible labour
• Zero hour contracts


  • Benefits such as sick pay and pensions are not given
• Phillipson (1982) claimed that the elderly have historically been used as a reserve army of labour
• Age inequality


  Can be seen as a social construct used to benefit the bourgeoisie
• Legitimation of authority (Gramsci 1971)


  Bourgeoisie maintain authority through political and civil society (rule through consent)
• False consciousness


  Explains why people don't realise certain concessions they receive
• Small measures like child benefits and pensions act as a form of this false consciousness
• Political economy theory (Townsend and Phillipson)


  • Uses ideas of inequality as meeting the needs of the economy to explain the inequality faced by the elderly
  • Phillipson: Portrays the elderly as a burden on the economy
  • Capitalism needs to continually renew its workforce to ensure greater profit by using young workers who may be more productive
  • Process of institutional dependency - in reality a forced dependency takes place, where the elderly become dependent on society as denied the right to work
• Contemporary examples


  • Retired teachers used as a reserve army of labour during Covid
  • Retired NHS staff asked to work to make up for staffing shortages due to illness
• Functionalists argue that there are no inequalities and that differences in roles are positive for society
• Functionalist view (Parsons)


  • The most important function of society is to maintain stability (social consensus)
  • Uses 'bridge' metaphor to explain how different age groups may experience challenges which help them to successfully transition into new age roles
• Functionalists believe each age group goes through challenges to reach the next age group, and that there are no inequalities, only differences
• New Right view


  Inequalities are caused by young people who are lazy and poorly socialised
• There has been a recent growth in the 'grey pound' - the economic power of the elderly people
• Older women face more disadvantages than older men in the aging process