Perceptions of ageism: views of older people

Title
Perceptions of ageism: views of older people
Publication Date
2012
Author(s)
Minichiello, Victor
Browne, Jan L
Kendig, Hal
Editor
Editor(s): Jeanne Katz, Sheila Peace, Sue Spurr
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Policy Press
Place of publication
Bristol, United Kingdom
Edition
1
UNE publication id
une:11851
Abstract
Ageism is a set of social relations that discriminate against older people and set them apart as being different by defining and understanding them in an oversimplified, generalised way. Ageism is claimed to he very prevalent in Westernised societies [...] While Palmore (1988) shows that ageism is prevalent and widely experienced in the community, the literature does not widely report older people's stories of how this phenomenon impacts on their lives. Since the term 'ageism' was coined by Robert Butler in 1969, few studies have researched how older people may recognise and give meaning to the phenomenon of 'ageism'. Studies related to ageism have generally examined how the attitudes and beliefs of younger people contribute to denying older people opportunities and equitable treatment. For example, [...] Ryan and her colleagues (1995) show how younger people at an interactional level use patronising verbal and nonverbal communication towards older carers. Sawchuk (1995), who undertook an extensive analysis of advertisement campaigns and other marketing strategies, concludes that at a public level many marketing discourses perpetuate and reinforce negative stereotypes of old age. Studies which have focused on older workers have consistently found that they often face ageist stereotypes that define them as increasingly marginal in the workforce (Maule et al. 1996).The most significant barriers and deterrents are managerial biases that older workers are too costly, too inflexible and too difficult to train (Imel 1996).
Link
Citation
Adult Lives: A life course perspective, p. 332-340
ISBN
9781447300434
9781447300441
Start page
332
End page
340

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink