What do children think about old age? Segregation, integration and the ‘bookend generations’

As far back as 1968, it was suggested that the central concern of social gerontology was the issue of integration versus segregation: Are old people integrated into society, or are they separated from it?’. Segmenting the generations into school, work and retirement on the basis of age can lead to spatial and cultural separation of people at different stages of the life course. Whatever its cause, segregation on a societal level affects social networks, which makes it difficult for members of different groups to build personal knowledge of one another.This paper takes the novel approach of addressing the gulf of experience between the ‘bookend generations’ by asking children about their attitudes to ageing and older people. Analysis is based on data from the 2014 Kids’ Life and Times (KLT) survey which involved over 4,000 10 and 11 year olds in Northern Ireland, a region which has experienced other forms of segregation, including those based along religious, ethnic and political lines. The data suggested that the age at which people are seen as old is relational, often depending on the age of the respondent. The findings showed that children have a positive view of old people, and appreciate their diversity. Intergenerational support was emphasised. Around one third (31%) of respondents thought that young and old people do not mix together often while 69% thought it would be better if they did. Overall, the findings suggest that whilst children may live in an age-segregated world, there is respect between generations.