On the sociohistorical construction of social and economic reserves across the life course and on their use in old age

Oris, Michel and Baeriswyl, Marie and Duvoisin, Aline and Gabriel, Rainer and Girardin, Myriam and Henke, Julia and Masotti, Barbara and Tholomier, Aude and Widmer, Eric (2023) On the sociohistorical construction of social and economic reserves across the life course and on their use in old age. In: Spini, Dario and Widmer, Eric, (eds.) Withstanding vulnerability throughout adult life: dynamics of stressors, resources, and reserves. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore, pp. 269-283. ISBN 978-981-19-4566-3

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Abstract

Coherently with the life course perspective that studies individual life trajectories embedded in sociohistorical changes, this chapter offers a synthesis on the long-term dynamics of vulnerabilities in old age that are associated with a deficit of reserves. In a first time, we investigate how economic, social and health reserves have been unevenly constructed across long lives. The impact of social stratification in the early stage of life, the institutionalization of the life courses and the process of accumulating (dis)advantages are confronted. In a second time, we show how the results of those life course dynamics, the unequal distribution of reserves older adults have to cope with aging, changed during the last 40 years. Undeniable progresses also resulted in new inequalities, or the accentuation of older ones. Third, challenging the classical perspectives of political economy of ageing and social gerontology, we show that depletion is not a linear process but that social inequalities and life accidents play a role. Moreover, coping mechanisms are considered since they tend to be based on reserves’ activation while preserving a level of reserves, for further ageing challenges.

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