In China, Parents Are Not Expected to Work After the Age

question 12

Multiple Choice

In China, parents are not expected to work after the age of 65. They may live with their children, who often financially support them in their older years. If an older parent is working, it is viewed as a disgrace to the family. In the United States, parents often work as long as they are able or need to in order to financially support themselves. When they grow older and are unable to live alone, they rarely live with their adult children. What would explain the difference in how the older parent is viewed in China compared to in the United States?

• A) In democratic societies there is more guilt about needing to care for the older adult.
• B) Cultural patterns vary in how older adults are viewed.
• C) Citizens in richer countries are more able to care for older adults.
• D) Less-developed countries encourage more independence among older adults.

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