The Study On The Individual Development Of The Urban Elderly

It has been nearly 20 years since China entered the aging society.The decline of birth rate and the change of family structure have also accelerated the trend of aging population.At present,while discussing the pressure of aging society on economic development,the focus on the living conditions,life vision and value pursuit of the elderly is far from enough,which is difficult to support the construction of an active aging society.The study is based on the observation of grandparent caring in the city of C,and reveals the current situation of individual development of urban elderly through semi-structured interview.Based on the individualization theory of Beck,the study found that the urban elderly have some difficulty in individualized disembedding because of the traditional family culture and collective life inertia.And to some extent,the weakening of the positive image and the marginalization of discourse by social culture have also become the fetters of the de-traditionalization for the elderly.However,with the development of social economy and the improvement of living standards,the value pursuit of individual freedom and individual rights has gradually become prominent in the urban elderly groups.They no longer regard grandchildren caring as their duty.And their understanding of their own family and the boundaries of their children's family has become increasingly clear.Therefore,they began to pursue a selective life.The old people's life in the city is more abundant and their attitude towards life is more positive by re-socialization and leisure activities.Based on the case study,this paper holds that we should not only pay attention to the strengthening and defend of rights or freedom,but also focus on the issue of individual liberation and survival opportunities around the historical and realistic development of China.Therefore,we must have a deep understanding of the individualization for the elderly in the history,reality and future in China.In the practice of grandparent caring,the individualized development of the elderly is not a complete tear between the tradition and the modernization,but an on-going action for the pursuit of the independent and free life.And consanguinity is the future scale which is transcendental significance to the development of individuation for the elderly no matter their participation or leaving in grandparent caring.So,the process of individualization of the elderly in the city of C does not have the postmodern trace which was Beck mentioned,but shows the transformation from tradition to modem.The individualized development of the elderly is a re-embedding process under the relationism rather than a new Individual society.It's a regression to the traditional extended family and private network which shows more indigenous character.At the same time,we should deeply understand that individualization is not a result,but a continuous and unfinished process.