Discrimination Against The Elderly :: essays research papers fc

Discrimination against the ElderlyAmeri bunghole society has been set forth as maintaining a stereotypic and often negative perception of onetime(a) adults. This negative and/or stereotypic perception of aging and hop ond individuals is unmingled in such areas as langu years, 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. The term used to discover this stereotypic and often negative bias against older adults is ageism. Ageism can be defined as "any mental attitude, action, or institutional structure, which subordinates a person or group because of age or any fitting of roles in society purely on the basis of age"(Webster 25). As an ism, ageism formulates a prejudice in society against older adults. The victims of fanaticism and prejudice are generally referred to as minorities. This is not because they are ineluctably fewer in number, but because they are deprived of the rights and privileges of the majority (the of age(p) 4). Ageism, however, is different from other isms (sexism, racism etc.), for primarily two reasons. First, age sort is not static. An individuals 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 sexual activity remain constant. From this we can conclude that denial of old age is a principal source of bigotry against those who are old now (the elder 4). Second, no one is exempt from at some point achieving the shape of old. Unless they die at an early age, they will experience ageism. The later is an primal distinction as ageism can affect an individual on two levels. First, the individual may be ageist with respect to others. That is they may separate other people on the basis of age. Second, the individual may be ageist with respect to self so ageist atti tudes 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"(Online 1). This is the attitude most often seen in modern society. In general thither 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(Ageism 20).