CfP for a Research Topic in Frontiers in Sociology: New Pathways in Retirement Research: Innovative Perspectives on Social Inequalities and the Distribution of Transitional Risks

Conference/Meeting - New Pathways in Retirement Research: Innovative Perspectives on Social Inequalities and the Distribution of Transitional Risks (Research Topic)Deadline - July 31, 2020

 

About this Research Topic

The transition from work to retirement remains one of the major turning points within an individual’s life course, as it entails a variety of significant changes. Income and occupational prestige may decrease, but so does work-related stress; similarly, work-related social networks may loosen, but private networks can be strengthened and time is freed up for formerly neglected or new tasks and activities. Studies have explored why people retire (individual motivations), how they retire (institutional pathways), and how retirement affects different dimensions of older adults’ lives, including their health, wellbeing, finances, social networks and activities. We know that individuals retire in different ways and perceive/experience their retirement differently. This is likely to be influenced by the nature of their (previous) employment and by their gender, marital status, ethnicity, and social class. Retirement transitions may also be influenced by welfare legislation in a particular country and by discourses and norms around ‘right’ retirement ages.

Altogether, research suggests that the retirement transition is closely related to markers of social inequalities. Nevertheless, inequalities may be enhanced or even altered to some degree by policies to extend working lives. Policy changes include increases in pension ages, the closure of early retirement options, the lowering of replacement rates, and, in some countries, the abolition of mandatory retirement ages. Consequently, policies have recently focused on ‘activating’ older employees and keeping them in the labor market as long as possible, but also on framing their (in-)ability to do so in terms of individual responsibility. At the same time, research suggests that ageism is still widespread among employers, resulting in older employees being viewed as less productive, less likely to be invested in and more likely to be offered early retirement routes. This results in a new and pronounced form of ‘structural lag’ between societal expectations (and, often, individual preferences) on the one hand and institutionalized stereotypes and limited possibilities to work for older adults on the other. In this context, pressures to extend working lives may increase inequalities among those working longer and among those in retirement.

Against this backdrop, this Research Topic is concerned with the (re-)production of social inequalities within the transition from work to retirement. It particularly welcomes contributions that propose innovative theoretical and conceptual perspectives on this issue, that are concerned with emerging mechanisms in this (re-)production, and that focus on new risk groups. It accepts contributions using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods.

Keywords: Retirement, social inequalities, mixed methods, life course transitions

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

 

 

About Frontiers Research Topics

With their unique mixes of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author.

Follow this link for further details

Contact Details

Anna WankaE: Email Anna Wanka

Publication Details

Editors: Anna Wanka, Moritz Hess, David Lain ().CfP for a Research Topic in Frontiers in Sociology: New Pathways in Retirement Research: Innovative Perspectives on Social Inequalities and the Distribution of Transitional Risks. Frontiers in Sociology. ():

Latest News