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True ageism essay
Human Growth & Development: Lifespan (PSYC 2314)
Houston Community College
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Nigel Ross Crentsil
10/12/
Psyc 2314
Eileen Mello
Ageism in America: Case Study on Charley A. What Charley experienced was Ageism. Ageism is the discrimination, abuse, stereotyping, contempt for, and avoidance of older people. The term “Ageism” was introduced by Dr. Robert Butler in 1968 to take advantage of the efficacy of the terms racism and sexism in identifying and promoting changes in attitudes of people. It was quickly adopted by the media and found its way into the Oxford English Dictionary. Ageism can be classified into various types the type of ageism Charley experienced was called “Personal Ageism”. Personal Ageism is can be defined as ideas, attitudes, beliefs, and practices on the part of individuals that are biased (In this case the two young men) against persons or groups based on their older age (In the case all old people including Charley). B. In the view of the two young men all old men including Charley are senile and too old to be running the government. The young men have a preconceived notion that old people are unfit to be in positions of power due to the negative stereotypes that older people are generally perceived as sick, frail, and physically dependent on others or that old age is inevitably accompanied by a significant amount of reductions in their mental functions. But this is proven wrong by statistics and research. In modern age thanks to improvements in
hygiene, nutrition, health care, new technologies, and an increased focus in a healthy lifestyle, the average U. lifespan expectancy has risen to 77 years. So although it is true that the human body does lose some degree of resiliency with age, the extent to which physical changes occur varies widely from person to person, and the stigma associated with these changes is often unwarranted and untrue. These changes are mostly influenced with the type of environment, and behaviors the individual in particular was exposed to previously in life that may manifest itself later in life. Charley is the direct contrast of the views of the two young ageist men, he is very active and goes to the gym several times a week. Often alternating between cardiovascular exercise and weight training this shows he is not weak, sick, frail or physically dependent on other people. He is also shown to be active in poetry and is a participant in the poetry club. He is also enrolled in several classes at the community college. This shows Charley’s cognitive and mental abilities have not decreased or are impaired in anyway compared to his youth in fact it should even be better since the human’s long term memory becomes better with age. Charley should run for the town council with all these reasons listed. C. Suggestion 1 : One way to stop Ageism from occurring should be to create awareness on Ageism. Due to the fact most ageist actions are carried out without the perpetrator’s awareness that they are biased against persons or groups based on their older age. If the media helps to create awareness to the subject of ageism, light can be shed on the topic and the views on many people
True ageism essay
Course: Human Growth & Development: Lifespan (PSYC 2314)
University: Houston Community College
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