Ageism

Formal Definition

"any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates a

person or group because of age or any assignment of roles in society

purely on the basis of age" - Traxler, 1980

Informal Definition

Stereotypic and often negative perception of older adults

Where Do We Find It?

Films & Television

• Are they ageist?

• How?

The Golden Girls

Grumpy Old Men

Cartoons

Soap Operas

Greeting Cards

Your eyesight's gone!

but you look so natural and lifelike!

Humor

Two very elderly ladies were enjoying the sunshine on a park bench in Miami. They had been meeting that park every sunny day, for over 12 years, chatting and enjoying each others' friendship.

The older friend stares at her, looking very distressed, says nothing for 2 full minutes, and finally with tearful eyes, says, "How soon do you have to know?"

One day, the younger of the two ladies, turns to the other and says, "Please don't be angry with me dear, but I am embarrassed. After all these years, what is your name? I am trying to remember, but I just can't."

Language

• Hag• Coot• Witch• Codger• Biddy• Dirty Old Man

Advertisements

• We have the power today to slow and even reverse the disease we call "aging."

• Aging is now a treatable medical condition.

• Aging is not inevitable.

Myths of Aging

The majority of older adults will become senile

(defective memory, disoriented, demented)

during old age

Most older adults have no desire or capacity for

sexual relations. In other words, most older adults

are asexual

Chronological age is the most important determinant of age

Most older adults have difficulty adapting to change; they are set in

their ways.

Physical handicaps are the primary factors

limiting the activities of older adults

Older adults are incapable of learning new information; you

can't teach an old dog new tricks

Intelligence declines with old

age

The vast majority of older adults will at some point end up in a nursing home

Most older adults are rejected by their

children

In general, most older adults tend to be pretty

much alike

The majority of older adults say that they are

lonely

Old age can be best characterized

as a second childhood

Most older adults tend to be

preoccupied with death

Older people tend to become more religious

as they age; as they deal with their own

mortality

Retirement is detrimental to an

individual's health; six months ago he retired

and now he's dead, retirement killed him

Pain is a natural part of the aging process

The majority of older adults say that they feel irritated or angry most of the

time.

Rarely does someone over the age of 65

produce a great work of art, science, or

scholarship.

"It is fitting for the last year of the millenium to be the International Year of Older

Persons, with the theme 'towards a society for all ages' - a society that does not

caricature older persons as pensioners, but sees them as both agents and beneficiaries of

development" - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan,

1 October 1998

"No one can avoid aging, but aging productively is

something else." -- Katharine Graham