On Friday, March 29, CDHA hosted Deborah Carr, professor of sociology at Boston University, for a discussion of her recent book Golden Years? Social Inequality in Later Life. In her work Carr, who received her PhD in sociology from UW–Madison and was affiliated with the demography training program, connects research from a variety of fields, including sociology, psychology, epidemiology, and gerontology, to explore what accounts for disparities among older adults. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Carr shows the complex ways that socioeconomic status, race, and gender shape the lives of older adults, particularly vulnerable elders who struggle with poverty, chronic illness, unsafe housing, social isolation, and mistreatment by caregivers.
Thanks to Deborah for making the trip back to Wisconsin and leading a thoughtful and engaging discussion!