ABSTRACT

Sociologists remind us that "age" and "aging" are socially constructed concepts and experiences, taking on particular meanings in different times, places and spaces. A key take-away message comes down to a simple, but profound, conclusion: aging is not to be equated with the passage of chronological time. Societal influences on aging include both how people feel about themselves and also the impact of social forces that shape age and aging within particular cultural and historical contexts. Despite reduction in cardiovascular disease, aging Boomers face chronic conditions reflecting obesity and poor diet, lack of exercise and mental health problems. In traditional Chinese society, for example, old age brought with it a degree of veneration. The principle of cumulative advantage and disadvantage means that some well-off Boomers have been able to prosper, and join the ranks of the "Third Age" with ample resources.