Week 3: Social Aspects of Aging

Ageism

Ageism

Systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because of their age.

Institutionalized ageism

our societal structure is based on the fact that everyone is young, failing to tend to the needs of older people

Internalized ageism

once labelled old and begin to be treated differently by society, an older persons self concept will be affected.

filial piety

Prominent in traditional Chinese culture

• emphasizes importance of caring for parents but extends to obeying them and honouring ones ancestors

positive ageism

overemphasis on positive images of aging

(can stigmatize older persons who cannot meet this ideal)

Recap: Population is aging because of 3 demographic changes:

1. declining fertility rates

2. increasing life expectancy

3. immigration

there are more ____ _____ and better ____ _________ in aging friendly neighbourhoods

green space

street connectivity

Contextual vs. Compositional effects

composition:

➢ Making more of these built environment features because the neighbourhood is composed of more seniors

context:

➢ Older people move to the area with these features because it is healthier for them (context)

“people make the places OR places make people

• High demand from older individuals for built environment, therefore they will be built (compositional)

• Features already built (contextual) attracts older individuals

Population age distribution is changing. This is not a crisis if:

1. we understand the trends

2. the society responds with evidence-based feasible policies

Policy - definition

A set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by

• a group of people,

• a business organization,

• a government,

• or a political party

Policy only works if:

• targeted

• feasible

• evidence-based

Policy in context on population aging

Situation:

• more older adults and possibly dependency issues

goal:

• increasing the productivity of older adults

  • healthy aging, social services, aging in place

for good policy we need:

• evidence of trajectories of aging and related issues

reasonable policies

By making older people productive (healthy aging, changes in labour regulations) this ratio doesn’t mean dependency anymore

so…

1. Address real issues

2. goal is clear

Interaction between social factors throughout life

modernization theory

The social status declines as people age

due to lack of contribution?

• An inevitable result of aging or policies?

• Example of mandatory retirement at 65

• Older people themselves believe age is a limitation

intergenerational issues

Increasing life expectancy results in intergeneration competitions

• Can the job market be modified? \n

Change in family values/relations

• Shall care for older adults remain a responsibility of families?

Age relation

• older people themselves believe age is a limitation

• age organizes the society

  • gives power and identity

  • limits access to resources

• intersects with other social factors

Intersectionality

social factors as creators of ‘social location’

• age as a social factor

eg.

• being an older women of colour

  = combines harms of marginalization

  • impacts on health

  • concomitant strengths, resilience, and power arising from combinations of social locations

    • mobilize to improve health/ social status

Ageism

• negative value of ageing process

• seeing older people as ‘others’

• frequent verbal comments, jokes

• stereotypes include:

  • weak, incompetent, no contribution

Social consequences of ageism

• An unhealthy aging population

• Assumed burden becomes real burden

• Internalization: accepting that when you are old you are only receiver of services

  • Can’t contribute anymore

Why does ageism persist?

• Normal response to fear of death?

  • Old age as a reminder for inevitable death

• Learned socialization

  • ➢ During childhood

  • ➢ Media

  • ➢ Marketing

• Social discourse

  • Culture(s) that value health, youth, independence

culture vs cohort

“Caring for” does not necessarily mean “caring about”

• Neglect of issues in other cultures

• Living together not necessarily equals better care, higher affectation

Growing up in different times means different life skills

• Misunderstanding

Segregation of age groups

• Stereotypes

• Conflicts

Key: age integration, age literacy

Is it possible to eliminate ageism?

• Fundamental changes in social structure, attitude, etc.

  • Some progress

  • We can learn from improvement in other ….isms

• A Public effort

• Example of positive ageism?

What does ageism do to the society?

• Reinforces intergenerational conflicts

  • Segregates the society

• Deprives the society of potential contribution of potentially efficient older individuals who have internalized ageism

• Impacts social, mental, and physical health of older individuals

• Delays achieving the goal of health aging

Birth rate vs Fertility rate

Birth Rate:

• The total number of births in a year per 1,000 individuals.

Fertility Rate:

• The total number of births in a year per 1,000 women of reproductive age in a population

Summary

• Potential detrimental impact of aging population can be modified by proper policies

• Strong social-related factors generate and reinforce ageism

• Combating ageism is a social effort, responsibility of all age groups