Age Inequality

Age inequality is an important but often overlooked dimension of social stratification. Both the young and the old can experience significant disadvantage in terms of income, employment, status, and power, yet age-based inequality receives less sociological attention than class, gender, or ethnicity. The AQA specification requires you to understand age as a social construct, examine the inequalities associated with both youth and old age, and evaluate sociological explanations of age-based stratification.

Key Definition: Age inequality refers to the systematic differences in life chances, opportunities, resources, and social status experienced by people of different ages. These differences are not simply biological but are shaped by social, economic, and cultural factors.

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The Social Construction of Age

While biological ageing is a universal process, the social significance attached to different ages varies enormously across cultures and historical periods. Age is socially constructed — the rights, expectations, and statuses associated with being young, middle-aged, or old are determined by society, not by biology.

Evidence for Social Construction