Sunset Years: A Comparative Analysis of Older Adult Lives in China and America

Abstract

Many East Asian cultures emphasize respecting older adults, due to the influence of Confucian values. But does this really mean that the lives of older adults are better there? This article attempts to answer that question by contrasting the lives of older adults in China, a Confucian gerontophilic society, with the lives of older adults in America, a non-Confucian gerontophobic one. I use two approaches: examining federal policies centered around older adults such as Medicare and social security, and examining the cultural relationships older adults have with others they interact with. I evaluate how both impact older adults’ life satisfaction, using previous scholarship as well as oral history interviews. With a specific focus on issues of geriatric health, older adult caretaking, and intergenerational relationships, I offer a holistic picture of the nuances surrounding living as an older adult in both cultural contexts.