Publication type
Conference Paper
Series
Understanding Society Scientific Conference 2015, 21-23 July 2015, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
Author
Publication date
July 21, 2015
Summary:
The paper will explore three inter-linked areas of my own research,
and in so doing illustrate the richness and potential of ‘Understanding
Society’ for answering novel sociological and policy relevant research
questions.
Recent UK policy changes are predicated on government assumptions
that older men and women will continue to work in their late sixties.
Focusing primarily on men and women aged 65-69 (n=3400) in
‘Understanding Society’ (2012-13, wave 4), the paper examines gender
differences in participation in paid employment/self-employment, the
nature of employment and inequalities in income received. Nearly half of
economically active men aged 65-69 are self-employed, as are a third of
women.
Being employed/self-employed in the late sixties is associated with
health and educational advantages. Levels of income inequality from
employment, and especially from self-employment, are very marked. The
top 10% of self-employed men earn 10 times more than the lowest 25%, and
earn 20 times more than the lowest 25% of self-employed women.
Continued economic activity may compound gender and other inequalities
in later life. Sleep is increasingly seen as central to health and
well-being.
‘Understanding Society’ is used to analyse socio-economic
inequalities in sleep quality, and consider to what extent sleep may be a
mediator in the link between marital status/marital quality and poor
health. Finally, the paper analyses caregiving and sleep, and shows
that co-resident care-giving is strongly associated with poor sleep.
However, poor health and not being employed are implicated in these
relationships among working age carers, but not among older caregivers.
Subjects
Link
https://www.understandingsociety.ac.uk/scientific-conference-2015/papers/91
#523161