Chapter 1: Social Gerontology
According to the world health organization,
Ageism
is a set of beliefs about and attitude
towards the aged. Includes two distinct activities:
Prejudice-
Negative stereotypes about older people.
Discrimination-
People are denied opportunities just because they are old.
Age Stereotypes are active on social networking sites.
Age Discrimination
Occurs when people act on the basis of negative stereotypes and ageism beliefs.
Examples:
Older workers are not given opportunities to advance or to do the kind of work they
would like to do.
According to the age discrimination in employment Act in 1967, employers may not fire,
demote, reduce the salaries of older workers without good cause.
Despite this law, older workers file thousands of claims of job discrimination.
T-Mobile and Facebook.
Workplace discrimination and ageist jokes in movies, can have serious negative effects
on the mental and physical health of older people.
Older people tend to adopt society's negative attitude toward ageing- and those who do
more are likely to experience psychological
Ageist stereotypes can be transmitted through Media
Sometimes older people are depicted in a positive way.
EX
: The Notebook, Bridges of Madison county.
Reducing ageism through education.
Negative stereotypes about aging can be improved and reduced through education.
When young people are informed about the actual condition of the aged, they develop.
More positive attitudes and express less ageism.
Programs that foster intergenerational contact, combined with education about aging
process and misconceptions, worked best at reducing ageist attitudes.
Stereotypes and facts.
