SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY TODAY

An Introduction

Chapter 5: Biological Perspectives - Study Questions

1. Life expectancy at birth in the United States varies by gender. today, deaths from all three leading causes of death--heart disease, cancer and stroke--are higher for men than for women. It appears that females have a biological advantage over males from the beginning of life; for example, they are less likely to die in the first month of life. Is the greater life expectancy of females due entirely to biologically based differences between male and female? What social and cultural factors might explain the greater gap between male and female life expectancy today compared with 1900?

2. Explain why health is a social as well as a biological and physical issue.

3. AIDS is an exception to the historical decline in infectious illness. What social factors may explain the prevalence of HIV infection among those aged 50 and over?

4. Jane Smith, aged 45, is a recently divorced mother of two children, both of whom are in college. Prior to the birth of her children, she had been employed as an executive in a large corporation. She now plans to resume her career and hopes to have an active social life, perhaps even remarry. She is, however, concerned that her physical appearance--a middle-aged woman with noticeable wrinkling and graying hair--will be a handicap in both her professional and personal life. She is aware that film stars, such as Cher, Joan Collins and others have maintained a youthful appearance through plastic surgery. Although such surgery is expensive, she has decided to have a face-lift. Her children think this is ridiculous and a waste of money. What do you think? Justify your answer.

5. Would your view toward maintaining a youthful appearance if John Smith, Jane Smith's former husband, who is now growing very bald, decided to have a hair transplant in order to look more youthful? Is there a double standard of aging today?

6. Who benefits most from the emphasis on maintaining a youthful appearance--the recipient, the cosmetic industry, health care professionals, manufacturers of exercise equipment or others? Explain.

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