Politics, Power and Old Age (Rethinking Ageing) Book

In what ways are we considered to be different as we get older? Who defines the meaning of old age and how is this contested? Are older people as a group politically powerful, and if not, why not? What are the political consequences of an aging population? Politics, Power and Old Age introduces ideas, dilemmas and controversies about the way that lives of elderly people are shaped by patterns of power. It is about politics in the broadest sense and about old age as a contested part of contemporary social life. John Vincent applies ideas about power and ageism in specific areas such as lifestyles, personal identity, appearance, and intergenerational conflicts as well as pensioners' movements, party politics and elections. He includes original research into the role of age based issues in the 1997 British General election and on the social construction and negotiation of identity in old age. He also brings together material from a range of British, American and European studies of relevance to the theme of politics and old age. Throughout, he explores global and historical trends in aging but relates these to personal dilemmas and interpersonal relationships. The book is interdisciplinary, and its challenging ideas will appeal to a broad range of students, academics and professionals with a common interest in ageing and the care and well being of the elderly.Read More