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Gray Power: Agenda For Future Research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Shankar A. Yelaja
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Abstract

Gray Power came into prominence in the 1970s and has received considerable attention among social gerontologists. This paper reviews studies on gray power, political consciousness among the elderly and advocacy by organizations on behalf of older people, and it considers their implications for further research. Constructing the agenda for future research on gray power requires recognizing the diversity of older people and the life-course context through which individuals shape their concepts of old age and its meaning. Studies on political power need to be longitudinal as well as cross-sectional. Furthermore, studies on the political power of older people should consider how the young and middle-aged perceive their power relative to issues of common concern. Finally the studies of age advocacy groups should be linked with those of other advocacy organizations involved in social change (e.g. the disabled). The paper concludes that research on gray power should be fostered along inter-disciplinary lines of inquiry.

Résumé

Le pouvoir gris a commencé à prendre de l'ampleur dans les années '70 et a retenu l'attention des gérontologues sociaux. Cet article examine les études portant sur le pouvoir gris, la conscience politique chez les personnes âgées, les groupes militant en faveur des gens âgés, pour finalement analyser l'influence que ces études auront sur la recherche future. Avant de formuler l'agenda de la recherche future au domaine du pouvoir gris, il faut d'abord reconnaître la pluralité des personnes âgées et le contexte du cheminement à travers lequel chacun développe ses propres idées sur le vieillissement et sa définition. Les études sur le pouvoir politique doivent être longitudinales et transversales. De plus, les études sur le pouvoir politique des personnes âgées doivent tenir compte de comment les jeunes et les personnes d'âge moyen perçoivent le pouvoir qu'ils détiennent par rapport à des questions d'ordre courant. Finalement, les groupes militant en faveur des gens âgés devraient s'ajouter à ceux qui cherchent à entraîner des changements sociaux (e.g. les infirmes). L'auteur se termine en notant que la recherche sur le pouvoir gris devrait adopter un parcours interdisciplinaire.

Keywords

powerpolitical participationvoting behaviourage-advocacy organization.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , Summer/été 1989 , pp. 118 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1989

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