ANTH 172: Anthropology of Aging (Grace)

Fear of anger can ultimately be as destructive as expressed rage, fomenting social isolation, injustice, and misunderstanding. In Aging Angry: Making Peace with Rage, Amanda Smith Barusch argues that now, more than ever, it is time for older adults to turn toward anger rather than denying or avoiding it. By taking anger seriously, we can neutralize its destructive potential and harness its energy and wisdom for personal and social change. Barusch draws upon the experiences of hundreds of older adults and a wealth of literary and academic sources to empower readers with new understanding of anger's sources, dynamics, and possibilities. Topics range from anger and race in the United States to mass violence committed by older adults to aged activists who have changed our world. In rich and insightful prose, accompanied throughout by powerful case studies, Aging Angry forcefully demonstrates that anger--and even rage--can be transformative.

Taking a holistic approach to the study of aging, thisvolume uses biological, archaeological, medical, and cultural perspectives toexplore how older adults have functioned in societies around the globe andthroughout human history.

This book represents a collection of chapters by authors committed to Indigenous aging around globe and older adults' contributions to their social, economic, and cultural environments. The volume will include chapters from authors representing Indigenous populations from many parts of the world, who describe; 1) research studies on the social aspects of aging among Indigenous populations, including cultural, social, and/or economic contributions of older Indigenous adults in their communities, 2) perceptions of aging and well-being among international Indigenous populations, 3) theories about Indigenous aging, and 4) policy and intervention practices (i.e., programs and services) related to older Indigenous adults.

Today, more than 200,000 men and women over age fifty are languishing in prisons around the United States. It is projected that by 2030, one-third of all incarcerated individuals will be older adults. An already overcrowded and underserved prison system is straining to manage the needs of incarcerated older adults with growing frailty and health concerns. Separated from their families and communities despite a low risk of recidivism, incarcerated older adults represent a major social-justice issue that reveals the intersectional factors at play in their imprisonment. How do the people aging in prison understand their life experiences? In Aging Behind Prison Walls, Tina Maschi and Keith Morgen offer a data-driven and compassionate analysis of the lives of incarcerated older people. They explore the transferable resiliencies and coping strategies used by incarcerated aging adults to make meaning of their lives before, during, and after imprisonment. The book draws on extensive quantitative and qualitative research as well as national datasets. It features rich narrative case studies that present stories of trauma, coping, and well-being. Based on the data, Maschi and Morgen present a solution-focused caring-justice framework in order to understand and transform the individual- and community-level structural factors that have led to and perpetuate the aging-in-prison crisis. They offer concrete proposals--at the community and national policy levels--to address the pressing issues of incarcerated elders.