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<p>Although inequality is central to sociology, the discipline gives limited attention to the system of inequality that is based on age. To address this gap, I develop the argument that age, much like gender and other systems of inequality, operates as an institution. The argument derives from Lorber’s discussion of gender as an institution, in which parallels with age are drawn. In developing the argument, I integrate research in several fields that are often examined in isolation: life course sociology, gerontology, and age studies. I&#xa0;outline three key components of age as an institution—hierarchical age positions, age ideologies, and age norms—and discuss how they undergird age inequality. The article ends with a&#xa0;discussion of directions for future research that would further illuminate the structural components of age as an inequality.</p>

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Age as an Institution: A Theoretical Development of Age Inequality’s Structural Components

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月3日

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  • Anne E. Barrett

摘要

Although inequality is central to sociology, the discipline gives limited attention to the system of inequality that is based on age. To address this gap, I develop the argument that age, much like gender and other systems of inequality, operates as an institution. The argument derives from Lorber’s discussion of gender as an institution, in which parallels with age are drawn. In developing the argument, I integrate research in several fields that are often examined in isolation: life course sociology, gerontology, and age studies. I outline three key components of age as an institution—hierarchical age positions, age ideologies, and age norms—and discuss how they undergird age inequality. The article ends with a discussion of directions for future research that would further illuminate the structural components of age as an inequality.