Here is your final essay examination
(note that the work you
do for each of these questions can be used extensively in your term
papers if
you choose to do so).
From Part IV of your text and lectures:
1.
Traditional models
of retirement, such as the case of the retirement of a company man with
a
pension after 30 years of service, reflect the work lives of
middle-class White
men better than those of people of color, women (which constitute the
majority
of those who are poor).
a. Describe the financial outlook
for White middle-class men in contrast to the “others”.
b. List and describe realistically specific
steps that the “others” could try to implement to
aid
in their own retirement.
2. Given the readings on the possible difficulties of
rearing a family with an uncertain financial future (as a result of
having
children with disabilities, the prospect of dementia striking a spouse,
long
term health concerns, and just getting older), discuss the wisdom of
women who
place their own participation in the paid labor force 2
nd or
3
rd
to the more immediate needs of their families.
Keep
in mind all the readings that detail the
phenomena surrounding the almost automatic assignment of women as
family caregivers.
3. We’ve discussed caring for our aging parents as their
adult children. Aside from the sheer emotional stance that it is our
duty, what
are some real concerns you can see in providing care for them.
Include not only the financial aspects of
their care,
but the toll such caregiving
can take on the adult child’s life (one’s own family life, parenting,
marriage,
and retirement).
From Part V of your text and lectures:
4. Feelings of mastery and psychological well-being are as
important to people in late life as any other time in life. Often,
mastery and
psychological well-being becomes dependent on the assistance that is
available from
others. With later life characterized by a myriad of health declines
(in visual
acuity, physical strength, reaction time, memory, and so on) each of
which can
do damage to one’s sense of mastery and well-being, what are some
practical
exercises that can help maintain self-esteem and a feeling of
capability.
Think
back to your 2
nd exam question about identity, why is it
important
to nurture family relationships now, while still young.
5. Thinking practically, because people will likely live
long into their 80s in the future, and they will likely be out of the
paid-labor force for 25-35 years if they retire “on time”, discuss the
reality
of having millions of older Americans out of work and living on
fixed-incomes. Today,
these people are essentially viewed as being unproductive.
Discuss the extent to which this view is and
will
increasingly become untrue.
Detail, in as
many ways as possible, how “retired” people are, and will continue to
be, productive
and socially useful.
Is
it realistic to have such a large segment
of our population not
be seen as
important.
How is such a view contrary
to the national interests?