There are two ways of discrimination. First of all, it is actual discrimination for the gay and lesbian in the system of healthcare. The second option for discrimination of these minorities may be traced before they access the healthcare setting. The major reason is their decreased willingness for coming to the providers of the healthcare services. The core ground for the anticipated discrimination is the previous negative encounters in the healthcare system, which have been experienced by lesbian and gay seniors as they were younger. In addition, this attitude is forced by the stories of discrimination, heard from other gays and lesbians, regarding the discrimination in other areas of life - workplace settings, school or family (Brotman et al 497).
The retirement benefits have been provided by the Social Security Act of 1935 to the full-time eligible employees. This approach has made the retirement an expected part of the life for US women. At the same time, people of color are mainly employed in the unstable or low-paying positions in the sector of services. That is why the pension as well as social security plans are negatively affected by such factors as low payment rate and interrupted trajectory of work because of the caregiving. Additional gendered aspects in US are the following: private pensions and spousal benefits for women. All these factors make significant impact on the women caregivers (Orel et al 51-53).
The abuse of older women may be contributed by the following factors: loss of beauty; rewards or status (which depends on the affiliations with men). It is claimed that the following message is implied by the sexist and ageist forces: “there are two major functions of women – sexual and domestic and they both are based on availability of men and serving them”. In addition, the abuse of older women may be forced by such factors as their incompetence and dependence (such asocial and economic) (Vinton 90).
Works cited
Brotman, S., Ryan, B., Collins, S., Chamberland, L., Cormier, R., Julien, D., Meyer, E., Peterkin, A., Richard, B. “Coming Out to Care: Caregivers of Gay and Lesbian Seniors in Canada” The Gerontologist 2007 Vol. 47, No. 4, 490–503
Orel, N.A., Landry-Meyer, L. and Spence M.A. “Women’s Caregiving Careers and Retirement Financial Insecurity” ADULTSPAN Journal Spring 2007 Vol. 6 No. 1, p. 49-62
Vinton, L. “Working with Abused Older Women from a Feminist Perspective” Journal of Women & Aging, 1999: 11:2-3, 85-100
