Golden Years: Social Inequalities in Later Life with Deborah Carr

Air Times: August 26-September 1, 2019

Some Americans will be able to enjoy their golden years.  Others will not. Deborah Carr argues that the biggest factor determining which side of that equation you fall on is your socioeconomic status—that combination of education, income, and occupation that determines your social standing.

Carr is Professor and Chair in the Sociology department at Boston University. Her research focuses on aging and the life course, psycho-social factors and influences on health over the life course, and end-of-life issues.  Her latest book, Golden Years: Social Inequalities in Later Life, delves into the ways that persistent race, class, and gender inequalities shape experiences of old age in the United States.

In her interview on “Story in the Public Square,” Carr describes the disparity between the idealized picture of retirement and the reality for many Americans.  She notes much of this divide can be attributed to socioeconomic status and describes the impact limited financial means and support systems can have on an individual’s quality of life in their later years. 

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