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Age Stratification

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Age Stratification
1.0 Introduction

Social stratification is not a new phenomenon; its roots extends far back into antiquity with some contending that archaeological evidence reveals that social stratification existed in Cro-Magnon society 10,000 or more years ago (Tattersall 1998:178). Social stratification may be based on many attributes; according to Arredondo Biological differences can produce, directly or indirectly, social stratification by factors such as age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. Age stratification and ageism are very closely related; one cannot exist without the other. Age stratification separates people into three primary groups according to their age; the young, the old and the rest. Ageism is the process of systematic stereotyping or discrimination, takes over from there by being an enacted series of prejudices against a person or group based on their age, just as racism and sexism accomplish with skin colour and gender. Ageism allows the younger generations to see older people as different than themselves; thus they subtly cease to identify with their elders as human beings.” This essay will argue that age stratification and ageism permeate in the Australian workplace. Age stratification is a serious issue that women struggle to overcome throughout most of recorded history and around the world. As Alan Wolfe observed in the “The Gender Question” (The New Republic, June 6: 27-34), “of all the ways that one group has systematically mistreated another, none is more deeply rooted than the way men have subordinated women. All other discrimination pale by contrast. Gender inequality in the workplace is one of the biggest issues that have being overtly circulating through society for years and they are experienced in different types of welfare state such as, Economic independence, Balancing work and family balance a cross the life cycle and freedom from discrimination, harassment and violence. These three areas have been identified and found to be the key

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