Contexts of Ageing: Class, Cohort and Community / Edition 1

by Chris Gilleard, Paul Higgs

Overview

We live in ageing societies. Age preoccupies governments as much as individuals. A new affluence has spread across society and across the lifecourse. For many people looking forward to retirement, later life has changed for the better. But with this positive outcome for older people have come policy and social dilemmas for governments and individuals alike.

Drawing on a wide range of sources, this book analyses the social nature of later life in the context of the history of welfare states, the emergence of consumer society and the growth of individualism. The book argues that the third age, its origins, identity and contradictions are central to understanding the future of our society.

"Contexts of Ageing" is certain to stimulate academic debate. It is also appropriate for adoption on a range of courses. The book is written in a lively and accessible way, giving it appeal to upper-level undergraduates and postgraduates taking courses in sociology, social policy and health studies. Students and professionals working in the areas of nursing, health care and social gerontology will also find this book of interest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780745629506
Publisher:	Polity Press
Publication date:	09/02/2005
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Chris Gilleard, Director of Psychology at South West London and St. George’s Mental Health Trust

Paul Higgs Senior, Lecturer in Sociology at University College, London

Table of Contents

Preface.

Acknowledgements.

Chapter 1. Introduction.

Chapter 2. Class, Modernity and the Lifecourse.

Chapter 3. The Nature of Class in Later Life.

Chapter 4. Cohort and Generation and the Study of Social Change.

Chapter 5. Later life and the two generational fields of modernity.

Chapter 6. Community and the nature of belonging.

Chapter 7. Community in Later Life.

Chapter 8. Fog-lamps and Leitmotifs.

Notes.

References.

Index

Editorial Reviews

"An extremely valuable contribution to the sociologicalliterature."

Kate Davidson, Sociology

"The most cogent attempt so far to force a sea-change in the waywe think about old age."

Simon Biggs, Ageing and Society

"A provocative analysis which should stimulate fresh thinkingand new research in the field of ageing."

Chris Phillipson, Keele University

"Contexts of Ageing is an important profound,contribution to the literature. Like a fine wine, the readersavours the careful use of language and fresh insights broughtforward by Gilleard and Higgs. This book is to be read carefully,for the authors compel their readers to expand their minds andchallenge conventional wisdom about the past, present, and futureof the ageing society. Contexts of Ageing is a mustread."

Scott A. Bass, University of Maryland, BaltimoreCounty

From the Publisher