Social Problems, 13eD. Stanley Eitzen

Maxine Baca Zinn

Kelly Eitzen Smith

Chapter 5Demographic Changes

in the United States:

The Browning and

Graying of Society

Demographic Changes in the United States:

The Browning and Graying of Society

CH

AP

TE

R 5

Learning Objectives

5.1 Assess the historical settlement patterns that

have occurred in the U.S.

5.2 Explain the facts versus myths of the changing

racial landscape in America.

5.3 Explain the facts versus myths of the “graying of

America.”

5.4 Assess the potential consequences of the

“graying of America.”

5.5 Discuss how the elderly might cope with or

respond to their devalued status in society.

5.1 - Profile of the U.S. Population*

• United States – 313,000,000

(third highest in the world)

• China – 1.34 billion

• India – 1.21 billion

• The United States, a developed nation,

continues to increase. Why?

* January 2012

• One in five householders is age 65 or older.

• Beginning in 2011, an average of 10,000 additional people will become eligible for Medicare each day.

• Non-Whites make up about 37 percent of

the U.S. population, compared to 20

percent in 1980.

5.1 - Profile of the U.S. Population

continued

LO 5.1 - Video: Demography: The Study of

the Population

http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_

SHARED_MEDIA_1/sociology/videos/MSoc

L_Intelecom/INT_WWL_20K_004.html

LO 5.1

Why does the population of the United

States, unlike other developed nations,

continue to increase?

A. higher fertility rate

B. influx of immigrants

C. higher life expectancy

D. higher infant mortality

LO 5.1

Why does the population of the United

States, unlike other developed nations,

continue to increase?

A. higher fertility rate

B. influx of immigrants

C. higher life expectancy

D. higher infant mortality

LO 5.1

The U.S. population is increasingly

comprised of whites.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.1

The U.S. population is increasingly

comprised of whites.

A. True

B. False

5.2 - New Immigration and the

Changing Racial Landscape

• Immigration and Increasing Diversity

• Consequences of the New Immigration

• Immigration and Agency

• Effects of Immigration on Immigrants:

Ethnic Identity or Assimilation?

LO 5.2 - Immigration and Increasing

Diversity 1. Non-Whites comprise one-third of the U.S.

population

2. Racial minorities are increasing faster than the

majority population

3. African Americans have lost their position as

the most numerous racial minority

4. Immigration accounts for a large share of the

nation’s population growth

5. The racial composition of society is changing

LO 5.2

LO 5.2 - Consequences of the New

Immigration

1. Do immigrants take jobs from U.S.

citizens?

2. Are immigrants a drain on society’s

resources?

3. Will the increasing proportion of non-

Whites blur racial lines or increase

tensions?

LO 5.2

LO 5.2

Some are angry

with immigrants

who they feel

take their jobs

and use state

resources for

their education

and healthcare.

LO 5.2

LO 5.2 - Immigration and Agency

• Immigration can be forced or through human

agency

• Most people in developing nations do not

migrate

– Who does?

– What do they experience?

LO 5.2 - Effects of Immigration on

Immigrants: Ethnic Identity or

Assimilation?

1. Assimilate as quickly as possible

2. Adopt an adversarial stance toward the

dominant society

3. Resist assimilation and focus on ethnic ties

4. Adopt a bicultural pattern

LO 5.2 - Explorer Activity: Demographic

Changes: Fifty Years in Brooklyn

• http://www.socialexplorer.com/pearson/pli

nk.aspx?dest=http%3a%2f%2fwww.social

explorer.com%2fSpiceMap%2f%3fv%3d2

71b8685931249df

• Please log into MySocLab with your

username and password before accessing

this link.

LO 5.2

Immigrants are an economic threat to

__________.

A. the middle class

B. small families

C. the newly employed

D. low-skilled workers

LO 5.2

Immigrants are an economic threat to

__________.

A. the middle class

B. small families

C. the newly employed

D. low-skilled workers

LO 5.2

African Americans still outnumber Latinos in

the U.S. population.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.2

African Americans still outnumber Latinos in

the U.S. population.

A. True

B. False

5.3 - The Aging Society

• Demographic Trends

• Demographic Portrait of the Current

Elderly Population

LO 5.3 - Demographic Trends

• High fertility rates combined with high mortality

rates keep a population young.

• The United States is aging because birthrates

and death rates have declined.

LO 5.3

LO 5.3

The elderly are disproportionately white and female.

LO 5.3

LO 5.3

Which birth trend contributed to the dramatic

increase in the U.S. elderly population

beginning in 2011?

A. baby bust

B. population explosion

C. baby boom

D. population pyramid

LO 5.3

Which birth trend contributed to the dramatic

increase in the U.S. elderly population

beginning in 2011?

A. baby bust

B. population explosion

C. baby boom

D. population pyramid

LO 5.3

Low fertility rates and low mortality rates

keep a population young.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.3

Low fertility rates and low mortality rates

keep a population young.

A. True

B. False

5.4 - Problems of an Aging Society

• Social Security

• Paying for Healthcare

• Elder Abuse

LO 5.4 - Social Security

• One out of three seniors depends on

Social Security for 90 to 100 percent of

their income.

• Disadvantages for women because of the

social structure.

• Regressive Tax

• Dependency Ratio

LO 5.4 - Paying for Health Care

• The elderly consume more than one-third

of all healthcare in the United States

• Costs of getting old

• Medicare

LO 5.4 - Elder Abuse

• Institutionalized Elderly– Custodial versus therapeutic care

– Necessary or a “dumping ground”?

– Big business

• Noninstitutionalized Elderly

– beanpole family structure

– sandwich family structure

• Ageism

LO 5.4

Long-term care facilities are a big business

because of the aging population and the

__________.

A. lack of healthcare professionals

B. affluent seeking care

C. necessary regulations

D. government paying for much care

LO 5.4

Long-term care facilities are a big business

because of the aging population and the

__________.

A. lack of health care professionals

B. affluent seeking care

C. necessary regulations

D. government paying for much care

LO 5.4

According to your textbook, women are

disadvantaged by the Social Security

program.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.4

According to your text, women are

disadvantaged in the Social Security

program.

A. True

B. False

5.5 - Responses by the Elderly

• “Elderly” is age 65– At 65, most people have many “good” years left

• Positive– Travel, visit family, leisure activities, hobbies…for those

who have the means

• Negative– Facing physical changes

– disengagement

• Political– AARP is the second largest interest group

LO 5.5

LO 5.5

The disputed theory that elderly withdraw

from social groups and activities is called

__________.

A. disengagement

B. aging

C. responsive

D. controlled

LO 5.5

The disputed theory that elderly withdraw

from social groups and activities is called

__________.

A. disengagement

B. aging

C. responsive

D. controlled

LO 5.5

The AARP is the largest interest group in the

United States.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.5

The AARP is the largest interest group in the

United States.

A. True

B. False

LO 5.5

Question for Discussion

Discuss the changing population in the

United States. If trends continue, what will

the United States “look” like in 2050?