Final answer:
From a feminist perspective, the problems faced by older women are largely attributed to gender-based power and privilege differences. This perspective aligns with Conflict Theory, which examines societal structures that historically position men as dominant. It emphasizes systemic gender inequalities as the root of social and economic challenges for aging women.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Problems Faced by Older Women from a Feminist Perspective
From a feminist perspective, many of the problems faced by older women can be understood as due to gender-based differences in power and privilege. Such a standpoint argues that disadvantages in aging for women arise from entrenched social structures and stereotypical gender roles that have historically positioned men as dominant and women as subordinate. Addressing issues such as Social Security, which does not credit women for unpaid labor at home; healthcare disparities, where elderly women's concerns are often trivialized or deemed psychosomatic; and the media portrayal of elderly women in negative stereotypes, all align with the feminist belief that gender dynamics play a pivotal role in the social and economic challenges older women encounter.
This feminist viewpoint on aging correlates with Conflict Theory in sociology, which perceives social problems as stemming from the strife for dominance among social groups competing for limited resources. As such, it identifies a systemic inequality where societal structures and cultural norms collaboratively preserve the disadvantageous position of women, especially as they age. Thus, the perspective frames these issues not as individual differences, mere outcomes of socialization, or cohort variations, but directly links them with the systemic gendered power imbalances and social expectations molded over time.