Essay writing help

C H A P T E R F I V E

F A M I L I E S A N D

D E M O G R A P H I C T R E N D S : T H E N E W I M M I G R A T I O N A N D T H E A G I N G S O C I E T Y

Diversity In Families

New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

The New Immigration:

What are the two largest immigrant groups

coming to the U.S. today?

 90% of immigrants are from non-European countries, mostly Latin America and Asia.

 This demographic change challenges the cultural hegemony of the White European tradition; creating incredible diversity in race, ethnicity, language religion, and culture.

 While this diversity is seen as something that makes U.S. society stronger; it can also lead to division and hostility in society.

New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

Legal Immigration:

 Since 1992, approximately 1 million legal immigrants have entered the U.S each year.

The top sending countries of legal

permanent residents in 2014:

 Mexico, India, China, Philippines, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, South Korea, El Salvador.

New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

Unauthorized Immigration:

 Approximately 1.5 million undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. each year. The majority (65%) return to their native countries either by choice or through deportation.

 The Great Recession, slow U.S. economy, and high unemployment has caused the number of unauthorized immigrants entering the U.S. each year to slightly drop.

 Today there are an estimated 11-12 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

Immigration Policies

1850-1920: millions of European immigrants

entered the U.S. with 90% of immigrants

coming into the country of European decent.

1920: The U.S. placed limits on the number of

immigrants it would accept by passing the

Emergency Quota Act in 1921.

 National origin rules were designed to severely limit the immigration of eastern Europeans and to deny entry to Asians.

 Legislation often prevented family formation by excluding female migrants and prohibiting family reunification.

President Calvin Coolidge, 1924

Immigration Patterns

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

 This legislation abandoned the quota system that had limited immigration to mostly Europeans for the previous 50 years.

 The new law maintained the per-country limits, but it also created preference visa categories that focused on immigrants’ skills and family relationships with citizens or U.S. residents.

 As a result, the number of immigrants coming from Asia and Latin America increased. This shift in immigration has dramatically changed the racial and ethnic makeup of the U.S.

Immigration Policies

2012 DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)

 President Obama presented an executive order for the Dept of Homeland Security to provide temporary relief from immigration enforcement and deportation proceedings, as well as authorization to work.

Requirements:  Under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012

 Came to the U.S. at the age of 16 or younger

 Have continuously lived in the U.S. since 2007-present.

 Are currently in school, graduated or obtained a high school diploma/GED, or are an honorably discharged veteran.

 Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor.

Immigration Policies

Immigration Policies

2014 DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful

Permanent Residents)

 President Obama announces the DAPA policy along with a number of other immigration reform steps including expansion of the existing DACA program.

 DAPA would grant deferred action status to undocumented immigrants who have lived in the U.S. since 2010 (or earlier) and have children who are either American citizens or lawful permanent residents. It is not full legal status, but comes with a renewable work permit and exemption from deportation.

Texas v. United States

 2014 - Texas and 25 other states sued the District Court in Texas asking for the court to stop implementation of both DAPA and DACA expansion.

 2015 – A Texas judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the program from going into effect. The Obama administration appealed. The administration’s motion for a stay was denied and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 2016 – The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in United States v. Texas which means that the preliminary injunction stands. The ruling did not impact the original DACA implemented in 2012, only the DAPA policy.

New Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

Which of the following best describes you?

 1st generation immigrant: born outside of the U.S. moved to U.S. at age 16+

 1.5 generation immigrant: born outside of the U.S. immigrated to U.S. before the age of 16

 2nd generation immigrant: born in U.S. but parent/s born in another country.

 3rd+ generation: your family has been in the U.S. 3 or more generations.

 Native American Indian: your ancestors have been living in North America for approximately 11,000 years.

Immigration and the Changing Racial Landscape

 About one-third of the people in the United States are racial minorities.

 The racial minority population is

increasing at a faster rate than the majority population.

 African Americans have lost their

position as the most numerous racial minority.

 Immigration now accounts for a large

share of the nation’s population growth.

Racial/Ethnic Projections for the U.S.

Structural Diversity and Immigrant Families

The immigrant population in the U.S. is very diverse.  Language: The immigrant population comes from a

wide array of nations speaking dozens of different languages.

 Living Arrangements: Some live in ethnic enclaves,

while others live in neighborhoods made up of mostly native born Americans.

 Work: While most come as menial laborers, some come

with special skills and fill high paying jobs.  Family Form: Some immigrate as intact families, while

others have The wife/mother or husband/father come alone while others are back in the home country. At times children immigrate without parents.

Immigration Processes

Transnational Families:

Families whose members are living in two

countries.

Parachute Children:

Children immigrate without their parents to

pursue educational opportunities.

Chain Migration:

When family members arrive at different times.

Those who arrive first facilitate the arrival of

other family members.

Diversity of Latino Population

16% of U.S. population is Latino

Of that population largest groups are:

 63% Mexican

 9.2% Puerto Rican

 3.5% Cuban

 3.2% Salvadorian

 2.8% Dominican

 2.1% Guatemalan

 1.8% Columbian

 1.3% Hondurans

 1.1% Ecuadorians

 1.1% Peruvians

Latino Families

Three factors that have contributed to the growth

in the Latino population in the U.S.

1. A large influx of Latino immigrants.

2. First and second-generation Latina women have a higher fertility rate than their Anglo counterparts.

3. Life Expectancy: Latinos outlive Whites.

The Latino Paradox: Despite overall lower incomes,

lower education levels, and lower probability of having

proper health care, why is the life expectancy rate is

higher for Latinos (mostly 1st generation Latino

immigrants) than it is for other racial/ethnic groups in

the U.S.?

Latino Families

Explaining the Latino Paradox - Hypotheses

 Ethnic Enclaves: Living in ethnic enclaves (even in poor neighborhoods) provides stronger support networks through extended family, community ties, and kinship structures. This leads to lower stress, overall better health and well being.

 Not Acculturating is actually Healthier: When Latinos become more acculturated (assimilated into American society) their health usually diminishes as it results in higher rates of smoking, illicit drug use, and alcohol consumption. Similarly, newer immigrants are more likely to eat healthier home cooked meals, whereas once immigrants, their children, and grandchildren become acculturated they tend to eat more fast food, high fat foods, and fewer vegetables/fruits.

 Healthy Migrant Effect: It is argued that there is a level of “self-selection” with more healthy people likely to migrate to another country, and those who do migrate and suffer unemployment or health issues, tend to return to their home countries. This is why for example life expectancy rates for Mexican immigrants in the U.S. are higher than that of Mexicans living in Mexico.

 Latino Paradox is Overstated: This phenomenon of longer life expectancy only holds true for Latino immigrants from certain countries (primarily Mexico) and mostly 1st generation immigrants of middle- age and elderly. While overall the Latino population in the U.S. has lower rates of cancer, heart disease, and stroke (compared to Whites), they have higher rates of diabetes, liver disease, cervical cancer, AIDS, and homicide victimization (for males).

Latino Families

Kin Networks:

 Kin networks are a defining feature of the Latino population, however studies have found that these networks differ based on distinct social conditions.

 Studies have found that first-generation Mexican Americans, have smaller social networks than do their second-generation counterparts. This runs contrary to the common assumption that families fades in succeeding generations.

 Findings indicate that 2nd and 3rd generation Mexican Americans have highly elaborate family networks actively maintaining through frequent visits, ritual celebrations, and the exchange of goods and services.

Latino Families

Traditional Patriarchy & Egalitarian Patterns

 Latino families are typically viewed as settings of traditional patriarchy because of machismo, the cult of masculinity.

 Research has found however that there is considerable variation in family decision-making and the allocation of household labor. While some families do fit patriarchal role-segregated patterns, others fit more egalitarian patterns where men and women share household labor in less traditional ways.

 In general, the more independence Latina women have outside of the home (through employment and higher levels of education) the less patriarchal are the home arrangements.

Latino Families

Diversity in Roles within Latino Families

 For new immigrants, school-age children generally become competent in English more quickly than their parents, resulting I children assuming certain adult roles to help their parents negotiate bureaucratic institutions.

 Binational (Mixed Status) Families – Citizenship status can differ within one family, with some members being U.S. citizens, others permanent residents, and others undocumented. This can cause particular stress and strain on the family unit.

Diversity of Asian Population

5% of U.S. population is Asian

Of that population largest groups are:

 22% Chinese

 18% Filipino

 16% Asian Indian

 10.3% Vietnamese

 9.2% Korean

 7.5% Japanese

 Other Groups (Pakistani, Cambodian, Hmong, Thai, Laotian)

Asian Americans

Asian Americans are an extremely diverse group in terms of religion, language, income, education, occupational skills, and immigration experiences. Discrepancies among Asian American Groups  Cambodians, Vietnamese, Hmong, Laotian are more likely

to live in poverty and have lower education levels.  Chinese, Japanese, Asian Indians, and Filipinos are more likely to have higher incomes and higher education

levels. Asian Immigration 1850’s – 1950’s: disproportionately

made up of low skilled workers with lower levels of education.

Asian Immigration 1965 – Present: disproportionately

made up of high-skilled workers with high levels of education, but also includes refugees with low levels of education.

Asian Americans

 The number of divorces for Asian-Americans is lower than the U.S. average, especially for first- generation immigrants. Among Asian Americans, Japanese-Americans have the highest rate of divorce.

 In the U.S., exogamy (marring outside of one’s group) is most common for Asian women (and Latina women). This will be discussed further in Chapter 11.

 Chinese and Japanese American women have the lowest fertility rates compared to any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. Foreign-born Asian women rarely have children out of wedlock, but the rate doubles for U.S. born Asian American women.

 Chinese, Filipino, and Korean Americans are more likely to have households headed by single-parents than other Asian American groups.

Asian Americans

Demythologizing two common stereotypes of

Asian Americans.

1. Asian Americans as the “Model Minority”

 While some Asian-American groups (Asian Indians, Filipinos, and Chinese) have high levels of income and education relative to other racial/ethnic groups in the U.S., this does not reflect the experiences of other Asian American groups that struggle economically and live in poverty.

 In The Myth of the Model Minority: Asian Americans Facing Racism, sociologist Rosalind Chou and Joe Feagin critiques the idea that the “model minority” image of Asians protects them from prejudice and racism.

Asian Americans

2. Asian American Families as Patriarchal

 It is widely assumed that Asian American families are patriarchal, emphasizing men’s superiority and women’s obedience to their husbands.

 Research has found (similar to the experiences of Latinos) that traditional gender inequality is not found across all Asian families. Instead it is related to husbands’ and wives’ differential earning power and gaps in educational attainment.

 While recent immigrants hold more traditional gender roles, Asian Americans who have been in the U.S. for several generations have more egalitarian family structures.

The Effects of Immigration on Immigrant Families

Assimilation:

 The process by which an ethnic group adopts the culture of the larger society.

 As with previous immigrant groups, new immigrants are assimilating into American society.

1st generation: mostly use language of origin, some English

2nd generation: bilingual

3rd generation: monolingual (only speak English)

The Effects of Immigration on Immigrant Families

Segmented Assimilation Theory (Portes and Zhou, 1993) Immigrants follow one of the following patterns: 1. They try to blend in as quickly as possible leaving their old

culture behind

2. Resist assimilation by developing an adversarial stance toward the dominant society (usually 2nd generation poor/working class)

3. Resist assimilation by focusing more intensely on the social capital created through ethnic ties.

4. Bicultural Pattern – they adopt some patterns similar to those found in the host society, and retain some from their heritage

The Effects of Immigration on Immigrant Families

Barriers to Assimilation  New immigrants face racial discrimination that

immigrants from the early 20th century did not because they came to be identified as White.

 Due to workforce demands (higher education, skills, and command of the English language), immigrants today must assimilate faster than immigrants of the past to find jobs.

 Immigrants today are arriving at a time when the middle-class is shrinking and income/wealth inequality has increased. Because of the economic uncertainty felt by many Americans, immigrants are an easy scapegoat for the difficulties many face. The result is anti- immigrant backlash (for undocumented, and even documented immigrants).

 Punitive legislation that cuts back on social services for immigrants makes it more difficult to assimilate.

Immigration – The History of Nativism

Immigration and Agency

 Immigration when freely chosen is an act of agency.

 Most people immigrate to improve their economic situation and/or flee repression.

 Immigrants pool resources, live in extended family arrangements, and work in family businesses to cope with economic hardship.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Immigration Act of 1990

 Under the provisions of this act, gaining immigrant status generally requires a sponsor, who may be a legal resident, a U.S. employer, or in the case of refugees, the U.S. government.

 Immigration laws favor migrants with family connections. This has a snowball effect, enhancing the potential for further migration (chain migration).

 These chain processes often lead to dense ethnic concentrations in cities, where extended families are in close networks.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Undocumented Immigrants  These are often young male laborers who

come to the US to work and leave their families behind. Additionally many women come to work as domestics.

 Typically they send money home to their families.

 They may have the remainder of their family join them in the US when they are established.

 The undocumented also include people who

came to the United States as children.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Binational (Mixed Status) Families:

 Many arise out of undocumented immigrants having children in the U.S. who are legal U.S. citizens.

The vulnerability of undocumented

status has negative ramifications for

families.

 Undocumented individuals can not receive food stamps (CalFresh), cash welfare assistance (TANF), or health insurance (Medicaid).

 Undocumented women who are victims of domestic violence are less likely to report it to the police and seek help.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Gender Dynamics

 Immigrants arrive in their host country carrying with them the traditions, norms and culture of their homeland.

 If immigrant women go to work outside the home it can cause conflicts within the relationship.

 This may change the power distribution in relationships between men and women.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Case Study: The Reconstruction of Gender Relations

among Mexican Immigrant Men and Women

(Hondagneu-Sotelo, 1992; 1994)

 Hondagneu-Sotelo examined immigrations patterns to the U.S. by members of Mexican families.

 In situations where the husband/father immigrated to the U.S. and the wife/mother remained in Mexico, women became more independent devising extra income earning activities.

 The short separation of spouses diminished the power of the husbands’ authority and increased women’s autonomy and influence in the household.

 She also found that due to changes in immigration policy in 1965, married Mexican women were more likely to immigrate to the U.S. without the assistance of their husbands, but through a network of mothers, sisters, and friends.

Pierrett Hondagneu-Sotelo

Professor of Sociology at USC

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Case Study (continued)  Researchers found that strong cultural norms that

emphasize patriarchal men and submissive women (machismo) were changed, not by learning the values of a new society, but by arrangements induced by the migration process itself.

 The second source of decline in patriarchal arrangements and male dominance derived from the greater economic resources, esteem, and independence that work provides to immigrant wives.

 The researcher found that middle class families tended to become more egalitarian. In some families however wives remained committed to a patriarchal structure.

 Some women lived lives of contradiction where they had independence in the workplace, but remained subservient to their husbands in the home.

Pierrett Hondagneu-Sotelo

is the author of several books

about the experiences of

immigrant women.

The Effect of Immigration on Family Dynamics

Case Study: Migration and Vietnamese American Women: Remaking Gender Relations (Kibra, 1990; 1993; 1994)  Her research found that Vietnamese family and gender relations

were based on Confucian principles, which placed women in subordination to men.

 Following the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese migrated to the U.S. Unlike Mexican immigrants to the U.S. who rose in economic resources with migration, most Vietnamese who migrated before 1975 shifted from their middle-class occupations in Vietnam, to largely low-skilled, low-paying jobs in the U.S. As a result of this downward mobility, Vietnamese men and women became more equal as women went into the workforce.

 Additionally, family ties in Vietnam were based on the husband’s family, in the U.S. kinship networks involved both the wife’s and husband’s kin networks.

 While Vietnamese women’s equality increased, it did not lead to full equality.

Nazli Kibra is a Professor of

Sociology at Boston University

The New Second Generation

2nd Generation: The children of immigrants

 In 2010 there were 17.1 million children under the age of 18 living in immigrant families. These children account for 22% of all children in the U.S. and are the fastest-growing segment of the population.

 The children of immigrants are more likely to live in poverty so they are at greater risk, compared to nonimmigrant children, to drop out of school, bear children as teenagers, and have poor health.

 Because parents become dependent on children’s English speaking, the parent as an authority figure is sometimes lost.

The New Second Generation

2nd Generation: The children of immigrants

 Influenced by their peers, media, and American culture, second generation children don’t often see their parent’s experiences in the old country as being relevant to their experiences in the US.

 This generation may clash with their parents over traditions such as arranged marriages or marrying within a racial, ethnic, or religious group.

 Daughters are more likely to clash with parents than sons because parents tend to be more lenient with boys.

Elderly Immigrants

Elderly Immigrants

 Elderly immigrants usually are legal immigrants who reunite with their children who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

 Typically they are poor and do not speak English, thus they are dependent on family members for support. The elderly reciprocate by providing child care, cooking, and home maintenance for their children and grandchildren.

 While in their country of origin it is common for elders to be respected, once they have immigrated to the U.S., they are often defer to the needs of their children. This represents another way the immigration process changes family dynamics.

Video Clip – Immigrant Mother

https://vimeo.com/11774795

Immigrant Mother – Taiyo Na

The Aging of Society

Demographics:

 A falling birth rate and advances in medicine combine to make the 65-and-older category the fastest growing segment of the population.

 There is also an increase in the “old-old” who are people age 85 and older.

 Because racial minorities have a lower life expectancy, Whites are overrepresented among the elderly population. This is primarily due to a disproportionate number of minorities falling into low income groups and not receiving proper healthcare. Additionally, minorities are more likely to have physically demanding and dangerous jobs.

U.S. Population Age 85 and Older 1900-2050 (in millions)

The Aging of Society

Demographics:

 Women have a longer life expectancy than men. Because of this, elderly women are more likely than elderly men to live alone.

 For women age 75 and older, 50% live alone, while only 21.5% of men in the same age group live alone. This is directly tied to widowhood.

 Elderly women are more likely than elderly men to be poor with a 13% poverty rate for women, and a 7% poverty rate for men.

 Elderly African American and Latina women have the greatest likelihood of being poor.

The Aging of Society

Demographics:

 Geographically, some states and communities have disproportionately more older residents.

 25% of all elderly Americans live in three states – California, Florida, and New York.

 “Aging in Place” – most elderly remain in their communities after retirement.

 Elderly who migrate after retirement tend to go to warm climates (Florida, California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas). Those who migrate tend to be younger and more affluent than those who stay in their home communities.

The Consequences of an Aging Society on Families and the Elderly

1935: Congress set the age when Social Security benefits would go into effect at 65.

 At the time 65 was old because the average life expectancy was 62. Today the average life expectancy is 78.

 The implications of living well past 65 are profound for elderly and their families. For example, the average length of marriage in the U.S. Today is 43 years, compared to 28 years a century ago.

 Although the age of 65 as “elderly” probably needs to be readjusted, the authors of the text note that this is the benchmark used by society

Economic Resources

Economic Resources  Some recent retirees have personal resources such as

401K plans, pensions, savings, and investment income that economically support them at a high standard of living.

 Other retirees have been hit hard by the recession, seeing the values of their homes decline, their pensions lost or reduced, and their savings dwindled down to almost nothing.

 Some elderly have continued to work or returned to work to deal with financial difficulties.

 Social Security benefits differ for retirees because they depend on the length of time workers have paid into the system and the amount of wages on which they paid. As a result, 30% of elderly who depend exclusively on social security live below the poverty line.

Living Arrangements

Living Arrangements Among the Elderly

 Living arrangements of the elderly vary considerably by age, sex, race, and marital status.

 70% of elderly men live with their spouses compared to 40% of elderly women

 Elderly Japanese and Chinese Americans are more likely than elderly Whites to live in their children’s homes.

 African American and Latina women are more likely to live with relatives compared to White women.

 Compared to White and Latino men, older African American men are more likely to live alone and less likely to live with a spouse.

Living Arrangements

Beanpole Family Structure:

A four generation family structure

resulting from people living longer.

Sandwich Family Structure:

Three generation household where

middle age parents are simultaneously

caring for their own parents and their

own children.

Living Arrangements

Multigenerational Households

There are several reasons families make the decision

for the elderly to live with their children.

 The elderly adult may not be able to function physically or mentally on their own.

 The elderly adult may be too poor to handle economic demands of living alone.

 Other situations involve both the elderly adult and their child mutually helping one another out with things such as – childcare, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, etc.

Living Arrangements

Nursing Homes  It is estimated that between 33-50% of all 65-year-

olds today will use a nursing home at some point in their life.

 The older one gets, the changes of living in a nursing home dramatically increase.

 The residents of nursing homes are typically over the age of 75, female, White, and currently unmarried (usually widowed).

 The economically advantaged are less likely to be in a nursing home. When they are in nursing homes they tend to go into private nursing homes and receive better care than elderly who are poor and living in state-run institutions.

Paying for Health Care

 Although the elderly comprise only 13% of the population, they consume more than 33% of all health care in the U.S.

 The elderly account for 1/3 of spending for prescription drugs.

 The medical expenses of the old are three times greater than those of middle-aged adults, yet their incomes are typically much less.

 The incidence of Alzheimers disease, the leading cause of dementia in old age, rises sharply with advanced age which can dramatically increase healthcare costs.  4% of people age 65-74 have Alzheimers  47% of people age 85 and older have Alzheimers

Paying for Health Care

 Medicare: Government health insurance for the elderly (age 65+).

 Medicaid: Government health insurance for the poor.

 It is estimated that a 65-year old couple retiring in 2012 will need about $240,000 to cover health costs that are not covered by Medicare.

 Medicare does not pay for most long-term care, and Medicaid will help only after the patient’s resources are exhausted, resulting in many elderly being impoverished.

Paying for Health Care

Problems with Medicare  It is insufficiently financed by the federal

government.

 Physicians feel that the program pays them too little for their services. As a result, many physicians limit the number of Medicare patients they will serve.

 Only about half of the elderly health care bills are paid through the program, leaving them with substantial costs.  The affluent elderly are not hurt because they can

afford supplemental health insurance.  The poor are covered by Medicaid.  The “near poor” however do not qualify for Medicaid

and cannot afford additional health insurance.

Role Transitions

Retirement

 The idea of retirement is appealing and many have no problems adjusting to it, however for some people it is a difficult transition.

 Retirement can involve:

 A loss of identity - one’s work is the center of who he/she was and who others thought they were.

 Being deprived of work decreases social contacts. It says to some “I’m old” or “I’m no longer important.”

 It can mean less income which may require changing homes and downsizing.

Role Transitions

Retirement can have both beneficial and

detrimental effects on marital quality.

 On the positive side, retirement means more time together to engage in travel and other activities (for those who can afford it).

 On the negative side, increased time together can be seen as an intrusion into each other’s space and become a source of irritation.

 The division of labor in the household can often change as well, if for example, one spouse is retired and the other continues working.

Role Transitions

From Independence to Dependence

 As people age their driving skills deteriorate, resulting in drivers over 85 being twice as likely to crash as new teenage drivers.

 With people living longer it increased the likelihood of more elderly people being physically and mentally impaired which takes away their independence. They may require a care taker or nursing care.

 5.4 million Americans have the most common form of dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease). The patient may not recognize his or her spouse or children. They may live 4-20 years.  What is the spouse to do? The conventional wedding vows say “death do us

part” however some psychologists, social workers, and ethicists are arguing that the old rules don’t apply.

 The text asks – Is it appropriate for the spouse of an Alzheimer’s patient to seek emotional attachment and companionship elsewhere What do you think?

Role Transitions

Widowhood

 The probability of becoming a widow or widower increases in old age.

 It can lead to loss, isolation and depression.

 A problem for widows is the decrease in income.

 Studies show that men find it more difficult than women to adjust after their spouse had died.

 Today many widows cohabitate with a new partner rather than re-marry. According to Census data, from 2000-2010 the number of elderly couples cohabitating tripled.

Role Transitions

Impending Death  In 1900 the average life expectancy was 50

years, with infectious diseases the most common cause of death.

 The average life expectancy today is 78. Question: What do you think the leading causes

of death are today?  Heart Disease, Caner, and Stroke.

 How do the elderly and their families prepare for death?  Do they avoid thinking and talking about it?  Do they actively prepare wills?  Do they make burial arrangements and funeral plans?

Responses by the Elderly: Human Agency

 Disengagement: some elderly respond to the aging process by retreating from relationships, organizations and society.

 Active Elderly: the majority of elderly remain active until health problems curtail their mobility and mental acuity. Many engage in volunteer work, there are many programs for seniors to volunteer in churches, public libraries, charities, and as foster grandparents.

 Political Activism: A large number of elderly are politically active. Those age 65+ are more politically active than any other age group.

Responses by the Elderly: Human Agency

 Organizations Dedicated to the Elderly: organizations like AAPR, the National Council on Senor Citizens, the National Council on Aging, the National Caucus of Black Aged, and the Gerontological Society.

 Growing Influence: The elderly account for 20% of the voting public. By 2038 they are projected to make up more than 33% of the electorate.

 Political Positions: In general the elderly support programs such as Social Security and Medicare and oppose higher taxes and school bond expenditures.