Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of our book covers aging in the United States and across cultures.  A major theme of the chapter that I find very important is the fact that the population of elders is the fastest growing sector of our population.  People are living longer these days thanks to advances in the medical field, people taking better care of themselves, better facilities for continued living, and overall increased longevity.  Places like Japan and Europe are experiencing enormous booms in the their elder population.  However, this boom creates a lot of stress on societies and governments to keep up with the needs of the growing population.

The illustration below shows just how the population is aging around the world.
http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/handbook/c02cont.htm


The link found below will direct you to the website for the United Nations.  The site has great information about the world's aging population from 1950-2050.

Below is a link to an article that I found to be particularly interesting.  The author, Gudrun Schultz writes about how the world's problem is not a growing population, but rather the aging of our current population.  He talks about a couple of themes found in chapter two, the increase in our elder population, the decrease in birth rates, and the problems this is causing with retirement benefits.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2006/jul/06072102



This video came from youtube, it looks at the issue of our aging population and some of the negative effects it can have, and also a few humorous positive views of the issue.


This quote by William Novelli is powerful in emphasizing the issue of a globally aging population.
“The impact of the aging population on markets, employers and culture cannot be overstated, " William Novelli.

Chapter 2 Crossword Puzzle

Chapter 2
Across
 3. divisions among people for purpose of maintaining distinctions between different strata
 5. areas surrounding cities
 6. integration of ones lifestyle with that of their host country
 7. a sense of reverence for ones aging family members
 9. rapid growth of population age 60 and older
10. country that has a policy of one child per family

Down
1. a technology that creates new jobs primarily for the young which leaves older people in traditional jobs that become obsolete
2. advances in technology, applied sciences and literacy which are related to a decline in the status of older people
4. a theory in which the grandparents assume responsibility in raising the grandchildren
8. country that has implemented a long term care policy and system of care

Chapter 2 Word Key

Across:
3 – social stratification
5 – urban
6 – biculturalism
7 – filial piety
9 – population aging
10 – China

Down:

1 – scientific
2 - modernization theory
4 – skipped generation
8 - Japan