Result of baseline survey
2.9 Definition of Key Terms/Conceptual Clarification
Aging: Ageing, in the demographic sense, refers to the age distribution of a population. When older population increases than younger people is called aging. A population can, therefore, be said to be ageing, if it is moving towards such a distribution. But first the concept itself should be defined. Definition of aging could be defined by reference to the average age of the population. This is an unsatisfactory index, however, and it is not often used. It does not reflect changes in distribution accurately, nor does it show clearly the effects of old age. The word ‘aging’ is a biological process but it is of interest to sociologists because it is accompanied by
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changes of how one is treated in a society.59 Various factors are associated with it.
Simply speaking, aging refers to the complex process of becoming old. On the whole, it means to the physical, psychological and social processes which are related to grow old.
Age Cohort: Age is generally defined by years since birth. Cohort is defined as the year of birth. Age cohort refers to an aggregate group of people born during the same time period.60
Age discrimination: Age discrimination means the unequal treatment of population on the basis of their age. It also involves treating people less favorably because of their age.
Ageism: Ageism indicates the institutionalized practice of discrimination to an age group population. To speak in another way, discrimination against people on the grounds of age is called ageism. It can also be defined as attitude, action or institutional structure which subordinates or exploits a person or group due to their age.
Age prejudice: Age prejudice refers to the negative attitude to a group of people based on their age. For example, most people in all ages regarded those who are 60 and over as less capable, enactive, less productive, etc. than the people of other ages.
Age stereotype: Grouping people or individuals and making a judgment about them without knowing can be entitled as stereotype. Age stereotype highlights the preconceived judgments to a group of people considering their age.
Generation: Generation is simply a group of people who are born in the same general time span and who share some life experiences, such as, big historical events, pastimes and early work experiences. It is a typology that sorts people into time – period cohorts, family role based and / or life stage categories.61 To put it another way, a group of people who are born and live about the same time and have common cultural or social characteristics and attitudes is called generation.
59 http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction to Sociology, April 10,2010
60 Anderson, L. Margaret and Taylor, F. Howard, Sociology: The Essentials, Sixth edition (USA:
Wardswarth CengageLearning, 2011).
61 Philips, et al. Key Concepts in Social Gerontology (India: Sage Publication Ltd, 2010).
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Role: The word ‘role’ refers to the actions and activities of a person or group in relation to their status. Here, the actions and activities of the rural elderly have been defined as role. Role is the behavior expected of a person in a particular social position.62
Role performance: The role performance indicates the actual behavior of the person occupying a role. This concept relates to how successfully the people play their prescribed role. Operationally speaking, it highlights the ability of playing role by the elderly.
Role conflict: It is a predicament in which the role is associated with two or more distinct statuses. Role conflict is caused by simultaneous occupancy of conflicting structural positions. How do the individuals manage to carry out expected role in spite of inter role conflict. Since little credence is given to individuals' ability to modify social structure and its structural resolutions.
Role expectation: Role expectation describes the norms about how a role should be enacted. Here, the norms about how the elderly in rural areas enact their role has identified as role expectation.
Status: Status refers to the position or rank of a person or group within the society.
Here the position of the elderly in the society has been defined as status. A Socially defined position in a group or society is called status.63
Achieved role or status: It refer to the type of role or status which is attained by effort. It is called achieved role or status. It is the result of chance. Such as: Age, sex, race etc.
Ascribed role or status: A role or status determined at birth is called achieved role or status. It is achieved through some combination of personal choice, effort and ability.
Elderly: There are many opinions among the theorists as to the definition of the elderly. It varies from one country to another. However, it is also subject to the constructions by which each society makes sense of old age. The group of population
62 Lewis A Coser et at, ‘Introduction to Sociology’ (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc. London, 1983).
63 David. Popenoe, ‘Sociology’ (London: Prentice-Hall Inc. 1986).
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who belongs to the age group of 60 and more is called elderly. 64 In this research those who are 60 years and over have been considered as the elderly.
Rural elderly: Human settlements are classified as rural or urban depending on the density of human-created structures and resident people in a particular area. In general, rural areas include villages and hamlets. In a word, people who are 60 and above is called the elderly. So, the people who are 60 years and above but live in rural areas are called the rural elderly.
Social institution: The concept of social institution is very important in sociological study. Human beings base their behavior largely on the required and preferred norms they have learned. An institution is a system of such norms built around certain societal functions. When we speak of institutions we think ...of the system of controls that extends beyond personal relations. This system of control is the bond between the past and the present and between the present and the future, linking men to their ancestors, their gods, and their descendants. 65 To speak briefly, socially established rules and procedures which sustain in spite of bringing about social change are called social institution, such as, education, marriage, family, kinship, property etc.
Demographic transition: The demographic transition model refers to the transformation of countries and societies from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates. In the developed countries this transition began in the 18th century and continues today. Less developed countries began the transition later and are still in the midst of earlier stages of the model. Demographic transition means the passing of population from one population stage to another. The shift from high to low rates of birth and death is called demographic transition.66
64 Bangladesh Association of Gerontology (BAG). “The Elderly Contemporary Issues” (Dhaka:BAG ,2005).
65 Robert, M. MacIver and Charles, H. Page. Society: An Introductory Analysis (New York: Rinehart, 1949).
66 Metta Spencer, Foundation of Modern Sociology (London: Prentice Hall Inc. 1979).
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