SOCY 629 - Aging in Cultural Context

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Drawing upon readings about contemporary peoples from Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the United States, this course examines the process of aging and what it is like to be old in a worldwide context. Using case studies, life histories, readings and films, an analysis will be made of the way culture affects the aging process and is linked to variation in religion, family organization, social networks and beliefs about the life cycle. Global research on aging is used to discuss specific issues such as ethnicity, long-term care, community roles of the aged, urban development and homelessness.