Final answer:
Some developmentalists argue that aging experiences are influenced by gender, with women facing disadvantages linked to societal roles and biases. Theories ranging from functionalism to gerotranscendence offer different perspectives on aging, while debates on moral development highlight differing views on gender-specific trends.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gender and Old Age in Developmental Perspectives
Some developmentalists believe that gender plays a significant role in the experience of aging. Riley (1978) pointed out that aging involves maturation and change at physical, psychological, and social levels. Similar to race, class, and gender, age is also viewed hierarchically, with some categories being more highly valued than others, which can lead to negative views of aging and age segregation (Hagestad and Uhlenberg 2006).
Gender-specific impacts of aging involve the disparities women face due to long-standing social gender roles. In particular, the Social Security system and healthcare sector have been criticized for favoring men and trivializing the concerns of elderly women respectively (Sharp 1995; Munch 2004). Moreover, media representation of elderly females tends to depict them negatively and as less successful than their male counterparts (Bazzini and McIntosh 1997).
From a functionalist perspective, those with better resources who remain active tend to adjust better to old age (Crosnoe and Elder 2002). However, gerotranscendence, a theory formulated by Lars Tornstam (2005), posits that as people age, they become less self-centered and develop a sense of connection with the natural world, growing in wisdom and tolerance. This theory offers a symbolic interactionist approach to understanding the psychological changes accompanying old age, regardless of gender.
Nonetheless, when discussing moral development in the context of aging, Kohlberg (1969) noted a gender difference, suggesting that men moved past a certain stage more frequently than women. Carol Gilligan (1982) contended that women's moral reasoning is not deficient but simply different, with a focus on relationships and interconnectedness, challenging the notion that there is a uniform experience of moral development in aging across genders.