Martha Nussbaum’s theory of justice
Nussbaum’s theory approaches restoring human dignity in society. The aged have lost dignity because few people can take care of the needy aged people. Socially, the aged have fewer friends and accompaniments because of their unproductive state. They are often vulnerable to solitary lifestyles since no one sees something valuable in them. In societies, the aged live among the energetic people, but they are never treated humanely because most people are materialistic, and there is nothing the older people offer at that age. No more attention is given to them, so many suffer from depression.
The aged within the society live in poor houses among the racists who are never concerned with the issues affecting older adults. It is not deniable that the physical appearance of the aged is not attractive, but its love keeps us tied with them. Older people are vulnerable to rejection by society due to their physical appearance. For instance, if some people have been sick for a long time, their health status deteriorates significantly, affecting their physical appearance. Too many drugs make one look older than their actual age, and when one ages, their physical appearance is prone to rejection, especially with the rise of modernism. The old homes are always doomed to silence because few friends visit them. Policing has negatively changed the solitary state of the aged people, especially the Black American people, due to their way of life (Serchen et al., 2020). Society needs a total reformation to equalize people on the same grounds. Human dignity should never be compromised at all costs because it’s not treatable or correctable when it extends to a particular state.
Amartya Sen’s transcendental theory of justice
The approach of Sen’s theory of justice is the capability of people despite their status. For instance, the aged have different advantages unnoticed by society, though none is concerned about them. Older people have the last priority in workplaces because they have less energy to deliver the amount of exemplary service to organizations. Thus, they are considered less profitable and useless, yet they have been of service for a while. There is less tiresome work that they can deliver perfectly, but the conception of denying them jobs has been instilled in the minds of employers.
The economic injustices are prevalent, yet no one rises to voice their grievances because the retirement benefits are not helpful. They are released in relatively small amounts that can be referred to as fragments. It is worth noting that not all older people have retirement benefits authority, especially the population of older women who were dependent on their husbands when they were employed. When the country’s economic analyzers assess the status of the economy, the older people are regarded as the first group of the population that is pulling the economy backward because they are entirely dependent. In contrast with the young population, they are dependent but very productive at a certain age. It is not by choice for the people to have a retirement benefit plan but of the state laws, though the plan seems to be weightless when one gets old because the government has to dictate how one shall use the money saved with them. Many older people are suffering from deadly diseases because they have no source of income that could cater to their hospital bills. The economic vulnerability of older people to succumb to poverty is very high compared to the other groups of age classes, with the highest death rate due to dietary-related diseases and disorders.
Sean’s theory discourages individualism and promotes the welfare of all people in society. African American women, mainly those with lower incomes, have high chance of losing their retirement pension if the state experiences economic downturns. On the side of health issues, the technology employed in hospitals does not favor the aged people, implying that the government does not put much consideration into their existence when drafting its programs. Some of the health challenges are inappropriate technology to treat the aged who have suffered falls and care-intensive when struggling with life in their last minutes on earth. The intensive care unit suits only the sick people, not the weak-bodied people. The process of releasing the money takes a long such that any financial crisis challenging the government can alter the release and the amount of the money.
John Rawl’s Theory of Justice
John Rawls’s Theory of Justice is another vulnerability among older people that deprives them of the courage to face life’s challenges, including the ability to have a healthy body. It stresses fairness in all economic, social, and political aspects. Many older people, especially the African American population, have a negative attitude toward the government, and a number of them feel having their rights compromised over other peoples’ rights. When a person becomes old, white, or black, there are high chances of having a changed mind such that thinking capacity goes low.
The aged have few friends because the generation is hitting its climax and the remaining ones mostly spend time alone. One may refer to the couples as the lucky ones, but they, too, are vulnerable to low attitudes. Everyone deserves warm acceptance and spending time with others despite their age. Attitude affects the life of everyone significantly. For instance, the young aspire for a better and flourishing future because of the positive attitude and the possibility they see in themselves. The aged cannot work for a better life because nothing seems interesting in old age. The aged are often disadvantaged in government Practices. For example, on the issue of political matters, they are not represented, nor do their grievances reach the higher ranks of government. They are constantly discriminated against on the providence of government services, especially those discriminated against based on race. The issue of judging people based on color, even among the aged, has adversely lowered self-esteem and sent many into graves due to complications brought about by the negative attitude.
The social injustices based on racism, ageism, social class discrimination, and sexism affect the races and government structures to provide social amenities. There should be fairness in public facilities despite disparities prevalent among the population if equalization and justice are maintained. Older people are rarely included in any policy-making; thus, their rights are less addressed accordingly. The state of the aged people being paid low wages has rendered them poorer such that they cannot pay hospital bills, which is why many Hispanic and American black people are leading in death rates and chronic diseases in women.
Reference
Serchen, J., Doherty, R., Atiq, O., Hilden, D., & Health and Public Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians*. (2020). Racism and health in the United States: a policy statement from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 173(7), 556-557.