Overview

In our Discussion Forum, we covered concepts from white privilege to gender discrimination. Now, for our Reading Reflection #5, we will analyze topics found in our assigned readings from Chapter 13 (Links to an external site.) from our Introduction to Sociology textbook (the textbook can be found here as a website link .

Below are questions that ask us to investigate our complex relationship with grief and age discrimination, as well as theoretical perspectives on aging.

Directions

Reading Reflections – If referencing the textbook is requested in the prompt, please include citations such as page numbers from the reading to support your statements. If you include references to external works, like research articles or scientific textbooks, these must also be properly cited.

Questions

Briefly define the 5 stages of grief as described in the textbook. Next, think of a recent loss. Remember, all loss is valid, from a beloved family member passing away to a fractured work-friendship. In the context of this loss, do you believe you experienced any of these stages of grief? If so, which stages did you experience and how did these stages manifest in yourself & in your life? If not, why do you think you did not experience any of these stages? Finally, do you think reflecting on your experience with grief helps you empathize with the elderly and their increasingly intimate understanding of loss, and why?

Older people suffer age discrimination in much the same way youth and young adults do. Compare and contrast the discrimination of the elderly with that of teenagers, including at least 2 examples of everyday discrimination. In your answer, consider how the experiences of each age group might be similar or different to each other. Please use evidence from the textbook to support your arguments.

Which lifestyle do you think is healthiest for aging people – activity, continuity, or disengagement theories? Outline the pros and cons of your chosen theory in your argument structure (referencing and citing information from the textbook).