How do gender and social class shape the aging process?

The aging process is influenced by many factors, including gender and social class. These influences affect aging because they often shape the expectations society has for the behaviors, habits, achievements, and social networks of adults through various life stages. There are differences among professional women and homemakers, as well as differences between men and women, when it comes to aging.
For men, social networks tend to be comprised of those around the same age, at all adult life stages. The social networks of men tend to also consist of members in similar occupations or occupation categories (Ajrouch, et al., 2005). However, men in more professional occupations such as legal, medicine, finance, managerial, and executive tend to have social circles that span broader geographical areas.
For women, the extent and geographic range of social networks is often determined by social class, as well as whether women have had careers outside the home. Women who have worked and have higher levels of education tend to have more expansive social networks, though not necessarily more close friends. Women with lower levels of education tend to have younger social circles in midlife, while social circles are more similar to theirs in later life. Professional women also tend to have older networks (Ajrouch, et al. 2005). 
Social class affects opportunity and health for both men and women. Those in lower socioeconomic groups tend to develop health problems earlier in adult life than those in higher socioeconomic groups. This is due to several factors, including access to knowledgeable providers and effective health services, as well as knowledge of health risks and health-promoting behaviors.