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Serial Employment and Skinny Government: Reforming Caring and Sharing Among Generations*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Susan A. McDaniel
Affiliation:
University of Alberta

Abstract

The challenge of this paper is to re-examine the demographics which underlie the re-write of social policy in an aging Canada, as related to gender, family and generation. Following a brief consideration of Canada's changes and challenges in comparison to those in the United States and selected European countries, the analytical construct, “life cycles of dependencies and responsibilities” is introduced and utilized to examine shifting bases of security among generations (with a focus on six cohorts), and in particular, the implications of possible changes to social policy for the elderly on women, the poor and other disadvantaged elders.

Résumé

Ce document s'est posé comme défi d'examiner les données démographiques qui sous-tendent l'adoption de mesures sociales dans un Canada vieillissant en fonction du sexe, de la famille et des générations. Après un bref coup d'oeil sur les changements et les défis auxquels doit faire face le pays et un rapprochement avec ce qui se produit aux États-Unis et dans quelques pays d'Europe sur le même plan, on a introduit le concept analytique des «cycles de dépendance et de responsabilités de la vie» pour examiner le déplacement des fondements de sécurité en regard des générations (concentration sur six cohortes) et, plus particulièrement, les conséquences de l'adoption de nouvelles mesures sociales visant les aînés, sur les femmes, les défavorisés et les aînés démunis.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1997

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