Ageism and the Elderly - 2651 Words

Ageism and the Elderly Decrepit, senile, over the hill, old fart or slow driver are often the words you hear when referring to â€Å"the elderly†. In 1969, Robert Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging was the first to use the term â€Å"ageism† to describe the stereotyping of people because of their age. The term ageism contains a negative bias or attitude toward the aging. This it a form of discrimination. While there is other ‘isms used in American society; sexism, or racism, ageism enables the younger generation to see older people differently, they may be seen as just old people who are no longer able to actively contribute to society. When is a person considered to be old or elderly? There was a time when you†¦show more content†¦Other countries, like Japan and China consider their older citizens honorable and are treated with respect and honor. There are very few retirement homes in these countries because these families honor their elders and t hrive on the wisdom they can offer. So when they are unable to care themselves family members step in and take care of them. Society put’s people into classifications. Even though there are laws to protect classification (also known as stereotyping) it is done every day, there are classifications for race, religion, even sexual orientation. So as people progress through life their classification also changes; start school, age 4; graduate high school and attend college, age 18; graduate from college and procure gain full-time employment, age 25; stop working, age 65. So unless you die at a young age everyone will experienced some sort-of ageism. Ageism can be inflicted upon oneself. Our society worships youthfulness and to be young you need to be sexy, full of energy, somewhat thin and no wrinkles. So since most seniors are none of those they tend to feel less than worthy, isolated, and become depressed. These can cause a decline in mental and physical capabilities leading to just giving up. Because of financial responsibility most seniors started working at young ages. With the companies changing to more technology capabilities they have been forced to cut cost and workforce.Show MoreRelatedAgeism : A Social Perspective About The Elderly Essay2471 Words   |  10 PagesAgeism is a term that refers to a set of beliefs about age. Ageism is a type of stereotyping that relate to prejudgment or discrimination against any particular age group and is viewed as a negative perspective about the elderly. Ageism supposes that the elderly is no longer able to contribute to society in a meaningful way, and drain the broader society’s resources because of a continuous decline in health and well-being. (Women s Health Encyclopedia, 2011) Studies like the Census Bureau statisticsRead MoreAgeism : Prejudice Or Discrimination Against A Particular Age Group And Especially The Elderly1960 Words   |  8 PagesAccording to the online dictionary, Merriam Webs ter (2015) ageism is â€Å"prejudice or discrimination against a particular age group and especially the elderly.† Ageism is a form of stereotyping that can be pernicious to organisations by creating a platform for discrimination and further conflict. Ageism occurs quite regularly within organisations, whether it is directly or unknowingly, and intervention methods need to be employed to stop this conflict from arising. Stereotypes have long been prevalentRead MoreAgeism, By Robert M. Butler1589 Words   |  7 Pagesresource themselves†, this being a common interpretation many have on elderly because of Ageism (Irving, 2015, p. 72). The term â€Å"Ageism† was developed in 1969 by Robert M. 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By definition, according to Webster’s Dictionary, it is discrimination against person’s of a certainRead MoreAgeism Essay881 Words   |  4 PagesToday, elderly people in the United States are isolated from the rest of the world. Most of them live in nursing homes where they are far away from their families. Others live by themselves where they have no family members visiting them and leaving them to take care of everything. Some researchers believe that ageism, in the form of negative stereotypes, directly affects longevity. In a study published by the American Psyc hological Association, Yale School of Public Health professor Becca Levy andRead MoreAgeism : A Social Injustice1322 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Ageism is a form of discrimination most commonly experienced by the elderly, and because of that, it is unjustly overlooked. 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