Aging and Ethnicity. Toward an Interface

137 Pages·1987·8.577 MB·English

by  Leo Driedger and Neena L. Chappell (Auth.)

AGING
AND ETHNICITY
TOWARD AN
INTERFACE
by
Leo Driedger
University of Manitoba
and
Neena L. Chappell
University of Manitoba
Butterworths
Toronto and Vancouver
Aging and Ethnicity: Toward an Interface
© 1987 Butterworths, A division of Reed Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
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Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Driedger, Leo, 1928-
Aging and ethnicity
(Perspectives on individual and population aging)
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
ISBN 0-409-81187-4
1. Minority aged. 2. Minority aged - Social
aspects. 3. Ethnicity. 4. Aging. 5. Aged.
I. Chappell, Neena L. II. Title. III. Series.
HQ1061.D75 1986 305.2'6 C86-094908-7
Sponsoring Editor: Janet Turner
Managing Editor: Linda Kee
Supervisory Editor: Marie Graham
Editor: Anne Butler
Cover Design: Patrick Ng
Production: Jim Shepherd
To our families
BUTTERWORTHS PERSPECTIVES ON
INDIVIDUAL AND POPULATION
AGING SERIES
The initiation of this Series represents an exciting and significant develop-
ment for gerontology in Canada. Since the production of Canadian-based
knowledge about individual and population aging is expanding rapidly,
students, scholars and practitioners are seeking comprehensive yet succinct
summaries of the literature on specific topics. Recognizing the common
need of this diverse community of gerontologists, Janet Turner, Sponsoring
Editor at Butterworths, conceived the idea of a series of specialized
monographs that could be used in gerontology courses to complement ex-
isting texts and, at the same time, to serve as a valuable reference for those
initiating research, developing policies, or providing services to elderly
Canadians.
Each monograph includes a state-of-the-art review and analysis of the
Canadian-based scientific and professional knowledge on the topic. Where
appropriate for comparative purposes, information from other countries is
introduced. In addition, some important policy and program implications
of the current knowledge base are discussed, and unanswered policy and
research questions are raised to stimulate further work in the area. The
monographs have been written for a wide audience: undergraduate students
in a variety of gerontology courses; graduate students and research person-
nel who need a summary and analysis of the Canadian literature prior to in-
itiating research projects; practitioners who are involved in the daily plan-
ning and delivery of services to aging adults; and policy-makers who
require current and reliable information in order to design, implement and
evaluate policies and legislation for an aging population.
The decision to publish a monograph on a specific topic has been based in
part on the relevance of the topic for the academic and professional com-
munity, as well as on the extent of information available at the time an
author is signed to a contract. Thus, not all the conceivable topics are in-
cluded in the early stages of the Series and some topics are published earlier
rather than later. Because gerontology in Canada is attracting large
numbers of highly qualified graduate students as well as increasingly active
research personnel in academic, public and private settings, new areas of
concentrated research will evolve. Hence, additional monographs that
v
vi Butterworths Perspectives on Individual and Population Aging Series
review and analyze work in these areas will be needed to reflect the evolu-
tion of knowledge on specialized topics pertaining to individual or popula-
tion aging in Canada.
Before introducing the second monograph in the Series, I would like, on
behalf of the Series' authors and the gerontology community, to acknowl-
edge the following members of the Butterworths "team" and their respective
staffs for their unique and sincere contribution to gerontology in Canada:
Geoffrey Burn, President, for his continuing support of the project despite
difficult times in the Canadian publishing industry; Janet Turner, Sponsor-
ing Editor, for her vision, endurance and high academic standards; Linda
Kee, Managing Editor, for her coordination of the production, especially
her constant reminders to authors (and the Series Editor) that the hands of
the clock continue to move in spite of our perceptions that manuscript dead-
lines were still months or years away; Jim Shepherd, Production Manager,
for nimbly vaulting many a technical obstacle; and Gloria Vitale, Academic
Sales Manager, for her support and promotion of the Series. For each of
you, we hope the knowledge provided in this Series will have personal
value — but not until well into the next century!
Barry D. McPherson
FOREWORD
The 1981 Census reports that about 17 percent of Canadians are foreign-
born. Of this group, 32 percent indicate that their ethnic origin is other than
British or French. Moreover, these percentages are even higher for the older
age categories. For example, 11 percent of those over 65 years of age in 1981
reported that they spoke a language at home other than French or English.
Clearly, the multicultural character of Canada is reflected in our older age
groups. This demographic profile has important policy and program impli-
cations for those working with older ethnic Canadians, whether in a com-
munity or an institutionalized setting.
The first monograph in this Series (McDaniel, S., Canada's Aging Popu-
lation) indicated that shifting immigration policies since the late 1800s have
influenced the age and sex distribution, and the geographic location, of
Canada's ethnic groups. In this second monograph, two further important
findings concerning the relationship between ethnicity and aging are identi-
fied and discussed. First, it is noted that the process of aging and the status
of the aged varies between ethnic groups because of such factors as: the
year(s) they arrived in Canada; the community and province where they
settled; their degree of assimilation into the dominant culture; and, the
extent to which they have experienced discrimination at different stages in
their life-cycle. A second finding is that many Canadian institutions and
policies for the elderly have been designed for members of the dominant cul-
ture. This practice has occurred because of a failure to recognize that
Canada's older population represents a heterogeneous group with different
histories, needs and concerns. As a result, policies, programs and services
have often failed to adequately meet the needs of older Canadians with
diverse cultural, ethnic, language or religious backgrounds.
This monograph critically reviews recent research and policy literature
from two complementary perspectives — ethnic studies (Professor
Driedger) and social gerontology (Professor Chappell). This unique integra-
tion of knowledge from two fields of study is reflected in the creative link-
age of assimilation theory (from the ethnic studies field) and modernization
theory (from social gerontology). This merger provides an integrated
framework whereby the policy implications of aging within an ethnic con-
text can be examined.
Professors Driedger and Chappell begin their monograph by defining
ethnicity and aging, and by presenting a demographic profile of when
"typical" ethnic groups emigrated to Canada, and where they settled. Spe-
cifically, we learn that aging is a more important concern for some ethnic
groups than for others, partly because of their history, values, life chances,
vii
VIII Foreword
lifestyles and place of residence. To illustrate the extreme cases, the authors
note that 16.5 percent of Canadian Jews are over 65 years of age, and that
they primarily live in large urban centres. In contrast, only 3.5 percent of
aboriginal Canadians are over 65, and most live in the remote northlands.
In Chapter Two the authors address two basic questions concerning aging
ethnic groups in Canada:
• With increased modernization do the elderly lose status and to what
extent does this vary by ethnicity?
• Do ethnic groups vary in the extent to which they assimilate or retain
their identity, and how do these patterns affect the elderly?
Chapter Three explores the extent to which elements of assimilation and
modernization (e.g., education, urbanism, occupational status, use of
modern technology, language used at home, religion) affect the lives of
Canada's ethnic elderly. Based on this analysis, the authors introduce the
concept of "eth-elder", and construct a typology of aging ethnic groups that
will enable policy-makers and practitioners to more adequately understand
and meet the diverse needs of aging ethnic Canadians. This typology will
also stimulate scholars in many fields (e.g., ethnic studies, gerontology,
social work, sociology and psychology) to engage in further research and
policy analysis about this neglected segment of the elderly population.
In Chapter Four, the role of primary group relations for maintaining
ethnic identity and for preventing loss of status within the family is dis-
cussed in detail. The concluding chapter presents a revision of the eth-elder
typology, a discussion of methodological issues to be considered when
studying the ethnic elderly, a research agenda to guide future basic and
evaluation research, and a critical review of existing social policies as they
pertain to ethnic groups.
In summary, this monograph introduces practitioners, researchers and
students to recent and important ideas about aging Canadians with ethnic
roots. The discussions of assimilation, modernization, ethnic identity,
change of status, and primary group relations will sensitize policy-makers
and practitioners to the significance of ethnicity in the aging process, parti-
cularly during the later years. The concept of "eth-elder" and the typology
of aging ethnic groups will greatly assist gerontologists as they work with
aging ethnic Canadians, and will generate further research by scholars in a
number of disciplines. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the mono-
graph provides students in sociology, social work, psychology, recreation,
ethnic studies and gerontology (our future practitioners, policy-makers,
teachers and researchers) with a comprehensive, current and critical
analysis of aging and ethnicity in Canada.
Barry D. McPherson, Ph.D.
Series Editor
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
November, 1986
PREFACE
This volume represents the collaboration of two sociologists in the two dis-
tinct fields of ethnicity and aging. Driedger, who specializes in ethnicity,
claims no unique expertise in aging. Chappell, who specializes in aging, can
say the same about ethnicity.
When Barry McPherson, the Editor of this Series, asked each of us to con-
tribute to the Series, we discussed it and suggested that we combine our
efforts to write a volume on aging and ethnicity. Except for an issue of
Canadian Ethnic Studies, edited by Victor Ujimoto, very little work had
been done in Canada combining the two fields of study. When we examined
literature that combined the two fields in the United States and elsewhere,
including a volume by Donald Gelfand, Aging: The Ethnic Factor, we
found that much still remained to be done.
Here we present to you Aging and Ethnicity: Toward an Interface. This is
our attempt at integrating the two fields. The challenge was to find concep-
tual models that would provide a framework for comparison in aging and
ethnicity. We have used the theories of modernization in aging and
assimilation in ethnicity for that task. Our special readers and critics think
that a combination of the two work well; we hope the reader will think so
too. Another challenge was to provide a conceptual context for those who
are more theoretically inclined, as well as present more practical informa-
tion for practitioners who deal with everyday policy and action. A third
challenge was to do all this when models and theories were still limited, and
when data were often not available. All of these problems were a challenge,
and we hope the reader will find this volume useful, even though in some
ways it may be a bit premature.
In addition to the many listed in the references whose writings stimulated
us, we wish to thank Barry McPherson, Editor of this Series, and Janet
Turner of Butterworths for their encouragement and suggestions. We also
wish to thank reviewers Carolyn Rosenthal and Margaret Penning who pro-
vided critical comments that helped improve the manuscript. Marilyn
Shantz patiently typed many versions of the manuscript, and Audrey
Blandford ran much data on the computer, for which we thank them.
Leo Driedger and Neena Chappell
University of Manitoba
1986
ix
TABLES
1.1 Elderly and Non-elderly Populations by Ethnicity, Canada,
1981 8
1.2 Elderly and Non-elderly Foreign-born Populations by Place of
Birth, Canada, 1981 9
2.1 The Aged: Arguments For and Against Minority Status 17
3.1 Education Level of Canada's Elderly (55 Years and Over) by
Ethnic Groups 36
3.2 Percentage of Ethnic Elderly (55 Years and Older) in Ten
Metropolitan Centres of Canada, 1981 38
3.3 Occupational Status of Ethnic Groups in Canada (Aged 55
and Over) in 1981 39
3.4 Mother Tongue by Ethnic Groups and Their Home Language
Use, Aged 65 and Over in Canada, 1981 41
3.5 Percentage of Ethnic Group Shifting to English Mother
Tongue, by Age Group, Canada, 1971 43
3.6 Affiliation of Ethnic Elderly (Age 65 and Over) with
Religious Denominations 44
3.7 Distribution of Ethnic Elderly (55 Years Plus) by
Province, Canada, 1981 47
3.8 Attitudes and Activity of Native Indian Elderly (50 Years
and Older) in Winnipeg, 1984 52
4.1a Ethnicity by Marital Status, Aged 65 and Over, Canada, 1981 . . 70
4.1b Living Arrangement by Ethnicity, Aged 65 and Over,
Canada, 1981 71
4.2 Number of Children Ever Born by Ethnicity, Aged 65 and
Over, Canada, 1981 73
4.3 Ethnicity by Type of Residence, Manitoba, 1977 80
5.1 Preference for Culturally Relevant Services, Indians Aged 50
and Over, Winnipeg, 1984 90
xiii
FIGURES
1.1 Foreign-born and Canadian-born Elderly by Ethnic Origin
in Canada, 1981 10
2.1 Aging and Modernization 20
2.2 Modernization and Assimilation Processes and Goals 33
3.1 Cultural and Linguistic Regions, Canada, 1981 49
3.2 Emerging Eth-elder Types Plotted on a
Traditional-Modern Continuum 61
5.1 Eth-elder Types by Socioeconomic Status and Degree
of Urbanization 95
xv