Becoming and Being Old Sociological Approaches to Later Life [Paperback]

In this volume contributors examine the assumptions normally made about the elderly and offer differing sociological perspectives on becoming and being old, and on the concept of age itself. Instead of seeing the elderly in terms of needs, they offer alternative analyses in light of class, gender and race. Examining the life-cycle perspective on old age, they show how retirement from the workforce is only one aspect of becoming old, and arguably one which is important for only a minority of the ageing population.In this volume contributors examine the assumptions normally made about the elderly and offer differing sociological perspectives on becoming and being old, and on the concept of age itself. Instead of seeing the elderly in terms of needs, they offer alternative analyses in light of class, gender and race. Examining the life-cycle perspective on old age, they show how retirement from the workforce is only one aspect of becoming old, and arguably one which is important for only a minority of the ageing population.`Stimulating and interesting... should be in libraries as a resource for a variety of tutors and students.' - Nursing the Elderly

`This is an exciting collection of papers because it brings together such a variety of research and conceptualizing and places them in a cumulative relationship to each other.... It will have a place in the serious literature and in student bibliographies for some years to come' - Journal of Educational Gerontology

`Well written and thoughtful.... Strongly recommended for all libraries supporting programs in gerontology' - Choice

`A stimulating sample of contemporary British studies of becoming and being old... a well-written set of papers providing new opportunities for the advance of theory and research' - Ageing and Society

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