Ageism

Ageism
Nachel Tucker
NU 240
Breckinridge School of Nursing
Ageism is defined as a social construct that discriminates or holds stereotypical ideas about people of a certain age group. The term "ageism" was coined in 1969 by Robert Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging. He used the word to describe the process of systematic stereotyping of people because they are old. Ageism is a term that is similar to other ‘isms' in society, such as racism and sexism. "Ageism allows other generations to see older people as different from themselves; thus they subtly cease to identify with their elders as human beings" (Butler, 1975). All people, including the young as well as the old, can be discriminated against based on age. Today ageism is more broadly defined as any prejudice or discrimination against or in favor of an age group. America is still a culture which intensely denies death. We cringe at the mere thought of death and go to enormous lengths to avoid anything that would remind us of our mortality. Americans want to be forever young and never grow old and die. There is no place in our society for old age and death. This way of thinking is passed to younger members of our society by family members and by the media with the use of negative images of the elderly. Older Americans are portrayed as senile, frail or disabled in some way. CITATION Fig03 \l 1033 (Fighting ageism, 2003) The result of these ideas is that the elderly essentially become invisible to younger generations. Without value, there is no need to show respect to your elders, and most young people avoid contact with the elderly all together. The consequences of ageism are similar to those associated with other forms of discrimination. In American society the elderly part of the population grew from 2 percent in the 1800's to over 10 percent in the 1970's" (Fischer 114). But at the same time, as old age became more common, it also came to be regarded with increasing contempt. Discrimination against the Elderly has been described as maintaining a stereotypic and often negative perception of older adults. This negative and/or stereotypic perception of aging and aged individuals is apparent in such areas as language, media, and humor. For example, such commonly used phrases as over the hill and an old fart denote old age as a period of impotency and incompetence. CITATION Fig03 \l 1033 (Fighting ageism, 2003) Ageism can also be defined as "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"(Webster 25). As an ism, ageism reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. The victims of bigotry and prejudice are generally referred to as minorities. This is not because they are necessarily fewer in number, but because they are deprived of the rights and privileges of the majority. Ageism, however, is different from other isms (sexism, racism etc.), for primarily two reasons. First, age classification is not static. An individual's age classification changes as one progresses through life. Therefore, age classification is characterized by continual change, while the other classification systems traditionally used by society such as race and gender remain constant. Second, no one is exempt from at some point achieving the status of old. Unless they die at an early age, they will experience ageism. The latter is an important distinction as ageism can affect an individual on two levels. First, the individual may be ageist with respect to others. That is they may stereotype other people on the basis of age. Second, the individual may be ageist with respect to self so ageist attitudes may affect the self-concept. “We live in a culture that reveres youth. To be young is to be alive, sexy, and full of energy. To be old is to be "senile," "worthless," and having "one foot in the grave". This is the attitude most often seen in modern society. In general there are at least nine known major stereotypes that reflect prejudice towards senior citizens. These include illness, impotency, ugliness, mental decline, mental illness, uselessness, isolation, poverty and depression. This “discrimination allows the rest of us to separate ourselves from older people and view them as less than fully human”. Ageism, along with every other prejudice, is an appalling subject to face. It is not just going to go away. Great advancements toward ending ageism have been made in the United States. Congress passed a bill called the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prevents people from getting fired for being too old. Various groups such as the American Association of Retired Persons have been formed to fight for senior citizen rights. (CDC 2007) Life expectancy has risen thirty years in the past century. We have no choice but to deal with the ageing process as individuals. With all this in mind, remember that we are all growing older, every day. Which means, if you live long enough, someday you too, are going to be a senior citizen. That's why it makes a lot of sense to approach everyone you meet with kindness and respect, no matter what their age.
References
Dickman, Irving R. Ageism-Discrimination Against Older People. Public Affairs Committee, 1979.
Falk, Gerhard. Ageism, The Aged and Ageing in America. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd., 1997.
Guralnik, David B. Ed. Webster’s New World Dictionary. New York: The World Publishing Company,1970.JusticeNow:Ageism.”Online.http://www.talkcity.com/theinsite/justice/ageism.html. 1997-1999
Palmore, Erdman B. Ageism Negative and Positive. New York: [/i:93c125d798