The Gift of Generations

"In this clearly conceived and well-written book the author shows how different cultural assumptions about old age influence family and household behaviour patterns and social policy in the two richest nations....Her book makes an important contribution to our understanding of complex modern societies. It should be required reading for all those with an interest in aging and social policy." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute

• 1. Introduction: the social designation of deserving citizens; The private discourse: expectations of vulnerability - the public discourse: responsibilities for intervention - values, interests, and symbolic equity: a framework of analysis; 2. Two communities - two societies: West Haven - Westside Odawara - comparing communities; 3. Rights and responsibilities in the public domain: entitlement, obligation, and equity - individual, family, and state; 4. The practice of protection and intervention in the private domain: inside the household - outside the household - family and network - the recognition of vulnerability; 5. The Japanese viewpoint: the protective approach; 6. The American viewpoint: the contingency approach; 7. Cultural assumptions and values: trajectories of need - conditions of security - intergenerational equity - primary bonds of affection - units of self-sufficiency - visions of resource affluence; 8. The social regulation of interests: credit, debt, and mutual interests - rights, responsibilities, and collective interests - the logic of symbolic equity - distribution of symbolic resources: empowerment and disempowerment - social and cultural constructions of support - vulnerability and security - entitlement and obligation - reciprocity and dependency - failures and costs; 9. Conclusion: Reflections on diversity and change.