Aging and Society
Sociology 180
Spring 2005
Professor Merrill
Jefferson 407
Ext. 7284
Office Hours
Tuesdays 10:30-12:30
Course Requirements
Your grade will be based on the following:
Two In-Class Essay Exams (60%)
Class Participation (20%)
Life Review (20%)
Attendance is required. You are expected to miss no more than four classes
during the semester. Students who miss more than four classes will receive a
lower grade for class participation.
Students are expected to participate, particularly during discussion sections.
Students who do not participate will receive a substantially lower grade.
You must take the exams during the assigned times. Extensions will be granted
(for both the exams and paper) only if the student has a doctor's note and only
if the student notifies the professor prior to class. Papers will be marked
down a letter grade for each date that they are handed in late and will not be
accepted after one week.
Course Texts
Friedan, Betty. 1994. The Fountain of Age. Simon and Schuster.
Gubrium, Jaber. 1997. Living and Dying at Murray Manor. University Press of
Virginia.
Gubrium, Jaber and James Holstein. 2000. Aging and Everyday Life. Blackwell.
Myerhoff, Barbara. 1980. Number Our Days. Touchstone.
Quadagno, Jill. 2005. Aging and the Life Course. McGraw Hill.
Objectives of the course:
--To become familiar with some of the current controversial issues regarding the
elderly in America
--To have an understanding of the diversity of elders in our country while also
recognizing common experiences and trends among the elderly
--To examine the impact of an aging society
--To have a greater understanding of the aging experience in the general
population and among subpopulations
--To examine ageism in our country and the causes of our negative view of aging
--To explore the benefits of aging
--To get to know an elderly person
Course Outline
Jan. 20 Discussion of the Syllabus/
(Thurs.)
Life Review
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 277-287 (Ronai)
------------------------------I. Introduction
Jan. 24
Defining Age and Aging
Jan. 27
Quadagno, Ch. 1,4
The Fountain of Age (Group A)
by Betty Friedan pp. 35-103
-------------------------------Jan. 31
Feb. 3
The Fountain of Age (Group B)
by Betty Friedan pp. 35-103
Social Theories of Aging
Quadagno, Ch. 2
-----------------------------Feb. 7
"On Golden Pond"
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 40-46 (Rose)
Feb. 10
(continued)
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 47-61 (Atchley)
-------------------------------Feb. 14
History of Aging
Quadagno Ch. 5
II. Housing and Health Care
Feb. 17
Community and Housing
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 231-254 (Hochschild)
------------------------------Feb. 21
Number Our Days (Group A)
Feb. 24
Number Our Days (Group B)
------------------------------Feb. 28
Health Care
Mar. 3
------------------------------
Quadagno, Ch. 13
** EXAM 1 **
Mar. 14 Rationing Health Care
And Medicare Reform
Scharlach and Kaye, pp. 103-113, 13-21
(In Packet)
Mar. 17
Film
-----------------------------Mar. 21 Life Reviews
The Ageless Self by Kaufman (In Packet)
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 103-111 (Kaufman)
IV. Families and Aging
Mar. 24
Later Life Families
Quadagno, Ch. 8
------------------------------Mar. 28
Adult Children
Climo, Ch. 3 (In Packet)
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 193-213 (Finch/Mason)
Mar. 31
Family Caregiving
Merrill, Ch. 1,2,5 (In Packet)
--------------------------Apr. 4
Apr. 7
Film: Dad
** LIFE REVIEWS DUE **
(Film continued)
-------------------------Apr. 11
Nursing Homes
Apr. 14
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 401-412 (Diamond)
Living and Dying at Murray Manor (Group A)
-------------------------Apr. 18
Living and Dying at Murray Manor (Group B)
V. Income of the Elderly
Apr. 21
Employment and Retirement
-------------------------
Quadagno Ch. 12
Gubrium/Holstein pp. 145-150 (Stephens)
Apr. 25
Social Security
Scharlach and Kaye, 1-12 (In Packet)
"How Social Security Works" (In Packet)
Apr. 28
Politics
Quadagno Ch. 17
------------------------May 2
Early Exam:
Optional