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Ageism

A System of Oppression

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Who’s the Who

• Dominant Group

– More desirable

– More powerful

– Sexier

– Happier

– Memory lapse = busy, or attention

– Widely represented in media

• Subordinate Group

– Undesirable

– Less competent (higher warmth)

– Less attractive

– Memory lapse = “senior moment” or not listening (youth)

– More dependable (old)

– Less dependable (youth)

– Underrepresented and stereotypically portrayed in the media

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Defining Ageism

• Developmental Ages – Childhood – 0 to 11 years – Adolescence – 12 to 24 years – Young Adulthood – 25 to 40

years – Middle Adulthood – 40 to 64

years – Late Adulthood – 65 + years

• Elders – 85 + years

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QUESTION What does it mean to be old?

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QUESTION

What are the characteristics of the Baby Boomers?

What are the characteristics of the Millenials?

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Baby Boomers (1946-64)

• Politically active

• Economically secure

• Highest divorce rates & 2nd marriages

• Greedy

• Materialistic

• Ambitious

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Generation X (1965-80)

• Self-indulgence • Sense of entitlement • Materialism • Prolonged adolescence • Disregard for authority • High distress levels • Commitment to balanced way of life • First generation not to do as well as their

parents

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Generation Y (1981-2000)

• Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygBfwgnijlk

• “Generation Me” • More racially diverse than parents (“boomers”)

– 1 in 3 not Caucasian – 1 in 4 lives single-parent household – 3 of 4 have working mothers

• Self expression • Self fulfillment • Creativity • Frugality • Public service

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OBJECTIVE #36

Explain how the content of age-based stereotypes contributes to benevolent ageism

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DISPELLING STEREOTYPES Older Adult Examples

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Myth 1

• Myth: The majority of older adults are senile.

• Reality: Only 5 percent of those over 65 will develop dementia. 2011 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures data reports that 1 in 8 adults has Alzheimer’s disease

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Living Situation

Where do older adults live?

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Health

77% Americans 65-74 reported good or excellent health

68% Americans 75+ reported good or excellent health

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86 year old triathlete

1998 Senior Olympics

• 25% in their 50s

• 43% in their 60s

• 26% in their 70s

• .4% in their 90s

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72 Year Old Power lifter

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Myth 2

• Myth: Most elderly people are set in their own ways and unable to change.

• Reality: Research shows older people may change their opinion slower than younger people, but most remain open to change throughout their lives.

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Myth 3

• Myth: The elderly are slow to learn, less intelligent and more forgetful.

• Reality: There are differences in learning rates and styles between age groups, but it would be incorrect to say older people have difficulty learning. How older adults learn is different from younger learners, but that does not mean they cannot understand new information.

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Myth 4

• Myth: Elderly people are crabby and hard to get along with.

• Reality: Young and middle-aged people who are able to get along with others will be able to do so when they are older. People who are difficult to get along with when they are young will be difficult when they are old.

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[click]

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Benevolent Ageism

• Stereotypes of Older Adults (p. 501)

– Intolerance

– Health/Physical Appearance

– Personality

– Activity/Sociability

• Stereotype content model

– Older adults rated less competent than 75% of other groups.

– Older adults rated warmer than 92% of other groups

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Malevolent Ageism?

1. “Older adults are greedy.”

2. “Older adults should act their

age.” (Herbert, 2013, May 22)

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Myth 5

• Myth: The elderly are unproductive and uncreative; they cannot work as effectively as younger people.

• Reality: Many older people have the freedom after retirement to really develop their creative side. People now have the time to be active as volunteers in all areas. Many elderly people remain active and productive throughout their lives.

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Caretakers

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Income

9.7% Older Americans living below poverty

Over 50 = 1/3 U.S. population

80% of financial assets

50% discretionary income

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OBJECTIVE #37 Explain how perceptions of physical attractiveness and gait influence the perceptions of youthfulness and old age

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Research & Ageism

• A person is “old” if he/she is senile or useless.

• Young-old vs. Old-old

• Attractiveness

• Gait

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OBJECTIVE #38 Discuss the effect of subtypes as they affect perceptions of older adults

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Subtypes of Older Adults

Subtype Traits

Despondent Neglected, sad, afraid, lonely

Severely impaired Feeble, slow thinking, senile

Shrew/curmudgeon Ill-tempered, complaining, prejudiced, stubborn, nosy

Recluse Quiet, timid, live in past, set in ways

John Wayne Conservative Proud, patriotic, wealthy, conservative, religious

Perfect grandparent Kind, generous, family oriented, wise

Golden Ager Intelligent, productive, healthy, independent

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Blaine, B.E. (2013). Understanding the Psychology of Prejudice [2nd]. Los Angeles: Sage.

Subtypes

• Negative subtypes correlates with negative stereotypes

• More likely to base stereotypes on subtype, than just age

• Individuating information decreases reliance on stereotypes

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Media Portrayals of Older Adults

• Chevy Camaro Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuLOCSMS-3k

• Taco Bell Commercial: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-super-bowl-commercials/0ap2000000134653/Viva-Young

• Wii Fit Test

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Ageism

Children and adolescents

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Childhood Ageism Definition

• “Age discrimination against children stems from ideas about childhood and the relative lack of respect for, and status granted to, children's rights compared to those of other human beings.” (Lee, 2008)

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Ageist Beliefs

• Benevolence – Protected

– Dependent

– Pure

• Hostile – Disrespectful

– Rude

– Selfish

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FACT OR FICTION?

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Fact or Fiction?

• Approximately 70 percent of young people between 15 and 21 have been involved in community building and volunteer activities.

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[click]

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Fact or Fiction?

• Fewer youths are involved in violent crimes, and youth homicide rates reached a 14-year low in 1999 .

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[click]

Fact or Fiction?

• Local and national campaigns and initiatives, such as “Rock the Vote,” the “Truth” campaign for anti-smoking, and Students Against Drunk Drivers, demonstrate youth involvement in civic and health-promoting activities.

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[click]

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Examples of Oppression

• Employment

• Voting

• Health

• Violence

• Media portrayals

• Stereotypes

• Attitudes

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CHILDREN IN REALITY

Adora Svitak TED: http://www.ted.com/talks/adora_svitak?language=en

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Maya After visiting India with her family and seeing children begging in the streets, 6-year-old Maya was inspired to do something to help. As her mom recalls, “She was really surprised to see little kids in such poor conditions. We talked to her about it and the images really stayed in her mind and she wanted to do something to help." The idea Maya came up with was to make toys and sell them to her family and friends. Then, she’d give the money she made to charity.

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References • Blaine, E.B. (2013). Understanding the Psychology of Diversity (2nd

ed.). Los Angeles: Sage.

• Ferguson, M.O., Godsey, C., & Lambert, J.G. (2006). Retire These 10 Myths of Aging. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/sw/wl-retire-these-10-myths-of-aging.

• Generational Differences Chart (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wmfc.org/uploads/GenerationalDifferencesChart.pdf.

• Herbert, W. (2013, May 22). The new malevolent ageism. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wray-herbert/the-new-malevolent-ageism_b_3318495.html .

• Kottak, C.P. and Kozaitis, K.A. (2008). On being different: diversity and multiculturalism in the North American mainstream (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

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References • Lee, Y. (2008). Why do children experience age discrimination?

Retrieved from http://www.crin.org/en/library/publications/discrimination-briefing-age-discrimination.

• Let’s Go Dispel Some Aging Myths. (2007). Retrived from http://www.go60.com/myths.htm

• Clark, Sheila. (2002, April). Adolescent health. Retrieved from http://www.naswdc.org/practice/adolescent_health/ah0205.pdf.

• University of Oregon (n.d.). Myths and stereotypes of aging. Retrieved from http://www.oregon.gov/dhs/apd-dd-training/EQC%20Training%20Documents/Myths%20and%20Stereotypes%20of%20Aging.pdf.

• Whitley, B.E. and Kite, M.E. (2010). The psychology of prejudice and discrimination (2nd ed.). California: Wadsworth.

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