Nancy Foner examined ethnographic reports for a wide range of nonindustrial cultures in an attempt to determine how the elderly fare in other places. Foner found

• A. A strong ethic of intergenerational caregiving.
• B. Little intergenerational contact outside of the United States.
• C. That gerontocide is a myth.
• D. That the elderly are always respected and cared for by the next generation.

Answer: (A)

Across many nonindustrial cultures, there is a strong ethic of intergenerational caregiving. Nancy Foner’s ethnographic analysis shows that elder care is typically managed within the family and kin networks, with children and other relatives taking primary responsibility. This reflects norms of filial obligation, reciprocity, and social expectation that the younger generations support their elders. You’ll often see multigenerational households and caregiving routines built into everyday life, rather than reliance on formal institutions alone.

This pattern helps explain why the best-supported takeaway is that caregiving for the elderly is deeply rooted in family obligations. It also explains why alternatives don’t fit as well: claims of little intergenerational contact miss the prevalent family-centered caregiving; assertions like gerontocide aren’t what ethnographic findings emphasize; and the idea that elders are always perfectly respected and cared for by the next generation is too absolute and overlooks variation across societies.