identity among the old

• Pilcher


  -argues inequalities such as class & gender remain important

  -many of these related to individual's previous occupational position
• class- middle class


  -have better occupational pensions

  -greater savings from higher salaries
• class - poorer older people

  -shorter life expectancy

  -suffer more infirmity
• gender 


  -women's lower earning & career > breaks as carers mean low pensions

  -subject to sexist (as well as ageist) stereotyping

  > 'old hags'
• Age Concern


  -found more people (29%) reported suffering age discrimination than any other form
• postmodernists understate the importance of such inequalities


  -related to the structure of wider society

  -play a major part in shaping the experience of old age

  -often restricting the freedom of the elderly to choose an identity > through their consumption

  -older people also face discrimination that limits choice : Age Concern