How Older people are viewed in the United States and China. For the assignment, I selected the social group of “old people.” I am not in this social group so I believe it will be perfect for this assignment. I think this stereotype exists because people's brains naturally try to categorize and make sense of the world around them. Stereotypes can be influenced by many things including, media, culture, and personal experience. Old people have many biases and stereotypes associated with them. The first example is the failure to use modern technology, many people believe that older people are not capable of understanding modern technology. Next, is the stereotype that older people's mental and physical health rapidly declines. Many people believe …show more content…
Some older people may face ageism, which is discrimination or stereotypes based on their age. In China, older people are valued for their wisdom and experience, much like the United States. Chinese culture strongly emphasizes filial piety, which means younger people have to show respect for and care for their elders. In China, older people usually receive special attention and support from their families and communities. Karina Martinez-Carter states in his article that, “Anthropologist Jared Diamond, who has studied the treatment of the elderly across cultures, has said the geriatric in countries like the U.K. and U.S. live "lonely lives separated from their children and lifelong friends." As their health deteriorates, the elderly in these cultures often move to retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.” (Karina 5). This quote from this article states that in the United States, older people usually retire to a nursing home because their families follow and believe many of the basic stereotypes of older people. It is very disappointing that in the United States, many older people retire into assisted living rather than living and being cared for by their …show more content…
Through this assignment, I have gained deeper knowledge and understanding of the value and wisdom that older people should be treated with respect and should not be automatically stereotyped. Reflecting on my journey of understanding and appreciating older people, I realize how my perceptions have evolved significantly. Growing up, I might have unwittingly absorbed societal stereotypes that portrayed older individuals as frail, technologically inept, or out of touch with the modern world. However, as I've done all this research and gained life experience, my perspective has changed, guided by empathy, personal interactions, and a deeper appreciation for the richness of older people's lives. Before doing this assignment, I was very quick to stereotype older people because it is just what everyone does. Everyone believes that older people can’t work with technology, have a decline in mental and physical health, and can not adapt to change. This assignment has made me realize that everyone gets old, but that does not mean they should be stereotyped so quickly. Older people can not help that they are getting older. This assignment has helped me understand that older people are treated differently in the United States and China. In the United States, older people are usually placed in assisted living
One important measure of the perception of the aging process is the manner in which aging and old age are depicted in various cultural forms. The condition of old age in primitive and prehistoric societies has been described by the folk tales and cave drawings of that have survived to the present (Fisher, 1978). Likewise, it is possible that current societal views of aging may be illuminated through the impressions created by contemporary agents of socialization. And while it is difficult to determine whether stereotypical images are derived from reality or if, if fact, such images create reality (Clark, 1980), it is possible to investigate how and to what extent certain institutions reflect various images of the aging process.
Bookman and Kimbrel acknowledge the gap between financial status as well as culture and race, they stated, “.because elders are widely diverse by race and socioeconomic status, their families attach differing cultural meanings to care and have widely different resources with which to accomplish their care goals” (2011). Thus, creating the large gap seen in nursing home facilities. Specifically, cultures like the Chinese maintain traditions like filial piety, in which the adult children must care for their elderly parent (Li & Buechel, 2007). This type of culture defines the line between those who view nursing homes as ideal and those who prefer a separate form of older adult care.
Nelson compares and contrasts this rationality by stating that being prejudice towards the elderly is no different than being racist or sexist. By comparing ageism with racism via a birthday card example, Nelson efficiently shows that the only difference between the two is that American culture deems it okay to be ageist because of the fear of aging and death. Also, there is a great strength in this argument because Nelson provides data from a survey, which states that individuals spend a vast amount of money in order to hide any signs of aging. Nelson strengthens his resolve by providing data that a general fear and “taboo” of aging exist in western culture. Due to this fear, individuals deem it okay to have harsh feelings towards the elderly because they fear the aging process, and they believe they are being truthful, not hurtful or
Understanding these topics has helped me realize that my viewpoints of elder adults and the process of aging are shaped by stereotypes embedded in my culture, which have affected the way I, as well as my family, communicate with one another. The Communication Predicament Model of Aging (Ryan, Giles, Bartolucci & Henwood, 1986, as cited in Giles, Oct. 21, 2014) proposed that these negative characteristics listed in exercise one can act as triggers for age stereotypes and lead to negative speech between the two groups (younger and older adults). This restricts communication opportunities between said groups, encouraging less social interaction with older adults. Thus, older adults can lose a vast amount of self-esteem, creating physiological and psychological problems.
Ageism is all too common in films. While there are still so many movies packed with stereotypes that view aging as negative, there is a recent movie, which portrayed aging positively in some aspects, the movie ‘The Second Best Marigold Hotel’. While this movie does contain stereotypes and humor about aging, it also shows the visitors leading active, happy, free and independent lives. They are not portrayed as being sick or frail, but instead they are embracing life and their experiences regardless of their age.
A stereotype is defined as ‘an exaggerated and often prejudiced view of a type of person or group of people’ (Novak, Campbell, & Northcott, 2014, pg. 5). Stereotypes often develop from observations/information that tend to not be true. If they turn out to be true then they are exaggerated and distorted. Further, if someone is found who does not fit the stereotype they are considered to be an exception. Some stereotypes positively portray the elderly but most have a negative impact. This can create prejudice and discrimination towards the elderly which can negatively impact their quality of life (Novac et al., 2014).
It is difficult at best to think positively when older people are viewed as “incompetent, boring, inactive, dependent, unproductive, weak, unhealthy, passive, ugly, dull, and sad” (Gething, 1999, p. 2). Essentially, a stereotype as such asphyxiates the wind from your sail early in one’s journey into old age. Then again, if the finish line is one of oppression, marginalization, and disempowerment, it’s a race best lost (Ranzijn, 2002). The most poignant negative affiliated with aging unquestionably centers on the end of life concerns. Although, our hope is for a peaceful demise there exists a chance of tremendous pain and suffering. The latter remains my biggest fear, which in and of itself sheds a negative light on aging. Subsequently, I turned to the article, Positive Psychology and Productive Aging in hopes it would provide
Imagine that you are of Arab decent you being screened more thoroughly than others at the airport. The only way the airport staff can identify that you are of Arab decent is based on your family name, Najjar. The airport staff constantly takes extra measures to confirm that you are not a terrorist. Stereotypes have existed in American culture for centuries. Early in American history stereotypes of Negroes and Mexicans predominately associate them with lower-class attributes (Campbell, 1967).
stereotypes and reinforcing the realities of aging as they care for older adults in all care
The term “ageism” is not easily understood by most of the population because of its acceptance as normal behavior due to the ingrained attitudes that most people develop in their youth, but health care workers must fully embrace the term within their profession in order to avoid becoming a contributor to the historical prevalence of prejudices and discrimination. The term ageism is defined by Klein and Liu (2010) as “the discrimination of individuals based solely on age” (p. 334). “Ageism is a social construct that is internalized in the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of individuals” (Klein & Liu, 2010, p. 334). Robert Butler, a well-known gerontologist, coined the term “ageism” citing that the discrimination and prejudice associated with this term is often based on the lack of a person’s experience with older people (Ferrini & Ferrini, 2013, p. 6). Ferrini and Ferrini (2013) refer to the strong influence that cultural beliefs and attitudes as well as a person’s current age influence the perception of aging (p. 6). Everywhere within society there are influences that encourage ageist attitudes such as media conveyances through movies, books, television, greeting cards, magazines and the Internet (Ferrini and Ferrini, 2013, p. 6). These negative connotations related to growing older begin to influence all people at a very young age and therefore impact their attitudes as they make career decisions. This has directly impacted the number of health care providers who specialize in geriatrics as well as the attitudes of those who do provide services for older adults. These false perceptions and negative attitudes are currently impacting the q...
Not just in the hospital, but in any part of their in general. Often the older adult is seen as confused and forgetful, poor, chronically ill, frail or disabled, unfriendly and grumpy, deaf and blind, and dependent. Changing nursing views on this issue and not forming biases towards this population will improve the care provided. It is important to differentiate your personal views while working in the healthcare industry. You must be culturally sensitive and not pass judgement on your patients. Our attitudes are formed by our past experiences in different situations, but as professional nurses, it is time to change and be able to recognize and find ways to improve negative attitudes and stereotypes towards aging. Not only in the acute care setting, but also in the subacute and home setting. “Given the increasing number of older adults in health care settings, forming positive attitudes toward them and gaining specialized knowledge about aging and their health care needs are priorities for all nurses. It is critical for you to learn to respect older adults and actively involve them in care decisions and activities.” (Korem,
According to DeBrew, author of “Can being ageist harm your older adult patients?” stereotypes and discrimination are evident in various aspects of patient care. “Ageism [is] defined as stereotyping or discrimination aimed at older adults and a lack of knowledge about normal changes of aging and presentation of illness in older adults (. . .)” (DeBrew, 2015). DeBrew (2015) states, “research findings suggest that ageism is common in healthcare” (DeBrew, 2015). Ageism is not only an issue in the healthcare setting, but also among older adults as well as their families. When ageism is present in the healthcare setting it poses
Ageist stereotypes in the media are another reason why ageism is now more pervasive than ever before. Stereotypes of growing older often include generalizations regarding the declining of health, happiness as well as attractiveness, and the media often take advantage of these misconceptions by presenting them as factual. In the media, elders are predominantly portrayed as sweet and vulnerable and this narrative is extended into news stories featuring elderly people. Stereotypes of older people being viewed as warm, but incompetent figures who are in need of our pity is precisely what narratives from the media perpetuate. At times, even well-intentioned advocates working to aid the elderly, unconsciously further perpetuate these stereotypes by using them to secure the resources and benefits that are genuinely needed by the
Aging is universal and it is a process that everyone has to go through. The only difference is that everyone goes through this process at their own pace influenced by factors that will be discussed later on in this paper. When we think about factors that have an influence on older adults and how their life may be affected, we must consider the different social institutions while analyzing influences from social factors, cultural factors, and personal values. Abuse to older adults, stereotyping and informal care and technological advancements that affect older adults are the three topics that will be discussed in this reflection. Furthermore, will connect the three topics I have chosen to the knowledge that I have gained from my interaction
Platonic Thinking: Tangible or Merely Words? (A Critique of Republic) Platonic ideals and views have been captivating the minds of scholars and students for the last two thousands years, and the question is why? What is so intriguing about the Socratic ideas and themes that Plato presents in his writings of the Republic?