Unmasking age : the significance of age for social research

What is age? A simple question but not that easy to answer. 'Unmasking Age' addresses it using data from a series of research projects relating to later life. This is supplemented by material from a range of other sources including diaries and fiction. Drawing on a long career in social research, Bill Bytheway critically examines various methods and discusses ways of uncovering the realities of age. Unmasking Age 2 Contents 6 List of figures and tables 8 Acknowledgements 9 1. Introducing age 12 Background 13 The concept of ‘age’ 17 Featured research 20 The chapters that follow 29 2. Researching age 34 Research in gerontology 35 Research methods 42 How old are you? 55 3. Age and time 62 Timescapes 63 Everyday life 66 Biography and history 71 The seasons 75 Returning 82 4. Representations of age 86 Words 86 Images 90 Representation 97 5. Growing older in an ageing body 102 Experience 102 The sight of the body 105 Birthdays 112 Transformations 120 6. Being older 128 Parents and children 128 Siblings 134 Couples 137 Networks 139 Succession 143 7. A great age 148 A centenarian 150 Approaching a 100th birthday 154 8. The ageing population 174 Age groups and generations 175 Age as a variable 177 Chronological age and mortality 179 Demographic statistics 181 Living alone 184 Bureaucracy 191 9. Gerontologists and older people 198 Reacting to need 199 Older people and involuntary retirement 201 The disintegration of age-related social worlds 205 10. Getting real 218 Behind the mask 219 Relations, groups and divisions 221 Social research 224 Theorising age 225 Postscript 228 Notes 232 Appendix 234 References 238 Index 250 Content: Introducing age -- Researching age -- Age and time Representations of age -- Growing older in an ageing body -- Being older -- A great age -- The ageing population -- Gerontologists and older people -- Getting real. Abstract: What is age? A simple question but not that easy to answer. This title addresses it using data from a series of research projects relating to later life. It critically examines various methods and discusses ways of uncovering the realities of age. � Read more... 'unmasking Age' Critically Examines Various Methods And Discusses Ways Of Uncovering The Realities Of Age. Introducing Age -- Researching Age -- Age And Time Representations Of Age -- Growing Older In An Ageing Body -- Being Older -- A Great Age -- The Ageing Population -- Gerontologists And Older People -- Getting Real. Bill Bytheway. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 227-238) And Index. __Unmasking Age__ critically examines various methods and discusses ways of uncovering the realities of age.