Old-Age and Ageing: Discourse, Social Attitude, and Personal Identity - Essay Example

? Old Age & Ageing Dis Social Attitude & Personal Identity [Pick the Introduction Old age is considered as the phase of human life in which he/she is expected to be incapable of performing normal activities of life. Public and media discourses play a pivotal role in defining a general perception of this stage of human life. Various researches have been conducted which supported the notion that public policy structures and projections of media play a vital role in defining old age as an abhorrent phase which takes away the liberty of enjoying the luxuries and liberty offered by life. This social attitude provokes youth to develop a certain behavioural pattern toward elderly citizens expecting them to be less functional and efficient. As a result of this social norm, elder citizens are forced to either refrain from taking part in social activities or redefining this external identity of being old with the help of technological advancements available dependent on their self-image. Discourse, social behaviour, and personal images play significant role in defining old age and ageing process, and project it to be synonymous to illness, dependence over others, and incapability of carrying out normal activities independently. Old Age & Ageing in Discourse In today’s western world, common public discourse act as the main criteria for defining ageing and old age. It is important to note that cultural and social stereotypes are the main determinants in defining social and personal identities of the ageing individuals. Public perception act as the main element in defining the very definition of old people. In general terms, old age is associated with failing body functions, illness, inability to perform normal activities independently, wrinkled skin with grey hair etc. Due to this social dogma, senior citizens are forced to adopt a life style which may not show compatibility with their actual potential. This social behaviour is further reinforced by public, general policies and media discourse. According to research conducted by Mei-Chen Lin, Mary Lee Hummertb, and Jake Harwood (2004), an online-discourse was evaluated in order to identify negative and positive themes related to ageing. According to their findings, positive themes included a mind-over-body attitude, active engagement, wisdom and maturity, and the freedom of age whereas negative themes involved physical decline, a sense of loss, and resistance to aging (p. 261 ). Further deliberation related to public policies also helped in developing an understanding that elderly citizens need due care in order to live a quality life. They are perceived to be dependent on their family, relatives and social care authorities for their end-life needs and perceived to be unable of helping themselves. Further careful analysis also indicated that ageing is a fearful phenomenon which makes individuals burden for their family as well as state. Due to this, policy measures are devised which would isolate elderly citizens from the rest of the society in the definition of providing them better care facilities. Many old age homes and social care shelters tend to provide living places to the elder citizens instead of actually engaging them society building. This dogma of weakness makes ageing a state of life which has to be avoided or if adopted, must be followed by a pattern of self-pity, idleness and uselessness. Other factors determining public discourse are gender roles. Where women and men go through more or less similar biological ageing process, the intersection of gender and ageing discourse is usually unidirectional and favors women more (Wilinska, 2010). Media is considered as one of the most important forums of discourse and philosophy promulgated through this source has a better tendency of penetrating into general public. Everyday numerous soaps, movies and cartoons are broadcasted which portray old people as feeble and clumsy individuals who are unable of taking care of themselves (Wilinska, 2010). A famous TV show, The Simpsons, which has been broadcast since past 25 years and retelecast across the globe uncountable times has an elderly character that is famous for its forgetfulness and Homer (lead character) appears to be righteous while mocking his father for his old age and his disrespectful actions regarding his father are also showed as justified. Furthermore, a blockbuster movie The Help which was based on US Civil Movement also showed that elderly people were incapable of working efficiently and they should be disregarded. Although, media has also projected the image that old people deserve care but the manner in which this is projected has made it a fearful state of life. Social Attitudes towards Ageing According to Powell and Wahidin (2007), there are two major schools of thoughts which represent the prevailing social attitudes towards aging. The process of ageing is perceived as a quantified mechanism represented in terms of numbers of years one has lived whereas the other part represents the social construction of this phenomenon. Phillipson (in Powell & Wahidin, 2007) stresses that this method of quantification is perceived as the natural method of calculating ones age and is basically a by-product of capitalism which is generally accepted worldwide. Under this doctrine, social attitudes determine the functionality of an individual on the basis of his/ her age, measure the usefulness related to that age and then develop a perception of an individual based on a quantified number. Scientific theories on the other hand present the pathological and psychological changes appearing in the person on the basis of ageing process. In sociological perspective, the definition of ageing varies with reference to various factors. In the light of disengagement theory which is functionalist sociological perspective, there is a mutual withdrawal between the society and ageing individual and society ceases to provide useful roles to these individuals. However, it is important to note that elder individuals not always choose to withdraw voluntarily but are forced to do so due to expectations of the society. Another sociological perspective is driven by activity theory. In this theoretical model, the ability of person to remain active and make contributions to the society determines their success. Where elder people fail to maintain the same quality of life, it forces them to become formant members of the society (Moody, 1998). If provided with substitute roles such as mentor or leader of the family, the levels of satisfaction and activity remain high. A careful analysis would reveal that both theories explain the stereotypes or prejudice towards elderly members. Where everyone has a different ageing process, the stereotypes define the definition of their personality which in turn, alters the behaviour of society towards them. As Thomas and Blanchard put it, “The paradox of modern societies is that they provide the stability and affluence that enable many people to grow old, all the while denying older people a suitable role within the social order (2009, p. 12).” A gerontological field of research emphasises greatly on determining cultural and social attitudes which play their role in defining the attitudes of youth towards the elderly members of the society. The cultural attitudes towards ageing can also be evaluated in cognitive, affirmative and behavioural context (Mess, 2005). Researches have indicated that there is general bias towards ageing where being young is perceived in a positive manner. According to Perdue and Gurtman (1990), young adults evaluated positive trait terms more quickly if preceded by the subliminal prime word ‘‘young,’’ whereas negative traits were evaluated more quickly if primed with the word ‘‘old’’ (in Mess, 2005). This rationale is well-supported by network theories which establish the relationship between negative traits and words like old or aged. There are various other theories which also support this argument (McCann & Giles, 2002; Warr, 1994). If viewed in cognitive frame of reference, various studies conducted on the subject matter support the idea that with the increase in age, overall memory and perceived performance level decreases (Lineweaver & Hertzog, 1998; Hertzog, McGuire & Lineweaver, 1998). Due to these stereotypes, the elders develop a certain perception about them and act accordingly although their individual physical and mental health may allow being more productive and active. Based on this phenomenon, Butler (2009) presented a term called ‘Ageism’ which demonstrates the impacts of stereotypes and discriminations on the overall behavioural pattern of the elder members of society. In response to this stereotypic behaviour, some of the ageing individuals may accept this general perceptions of their which may make them act in a pre-determined manner such as being socially, physically and sexually inactive, being ill, dependent on others, being stubborn or having a memory problem. Where some may accept it, others may enter into state of denial or take measures which would reverse their ageing cycle (Palmore, 2003). In response to these stereotypes, the elder people tend to take measures which would help them not getting categorized as old such as cosmetic surgery, use of youthful clothing, dyeing etc. Another obvious reaction is avoidance. According to Palmore (2003), old people after being labelled as inactive tend to isolate themselves from rest of the society and try to restrict social contact. Personal Identity and Ageing Where ageing exists at micro level, i.e. family as well as macro level, self-perception of ageing is one of the most important detrimental factors affecting the satisfaction level of an individual as he/ she grows old. Although there is an unavoidable influence from society and family in the form of reinforcement, it is important to understand the impact of self-image on individual’s response towards society’s stereotypic behaviour. This self-image in turn is dependent on two important factors which include “image of the age directed by chronological order” and “subjective age” which determines how old one feels and which age group they think they belong to appropriately (Sijuwade, 2009). There are various elements which perform as an indicative of ageing such as sickness, retirement, mental or physical disability, death of a spouse and also state of health. It is the image of a certain age which makes ageing individuals react in a particular manner associated to that age bracket. Hence, it is the self-fulfilling prophecies which make elderly people become isolated, display low performance, or undergo self-imposed misery of being physically and mentally sick. In addition to self-fulfilling prophecies, postmodern view of gerontology also plays a vital role in determining self-images in ageing people. Postmodern perspective of ageing mechanism argues that getting old has transformed into self-identity instead of a process. Older people are forced to wear a wrinkled mask with a youthful personality beneath them. Due to this perceived inability by society, individuals are forced to undergo stress and tension which takes place due to in-equilibrium between exterior outlook and inner strength. Secondly, it is mainly the lack of resources which is associated with increasing age that reduces performance levels of ageing individuals. According to Powell and Biggs (2000), technological advancements have provided opportunity to this ageing population have a better quality of life in the form of leisure opportunities and also tools to slow down (even reverse) ageing process. However, it is important to note that postmodernism mainly supports the affluent ageing class and those with no substantial financial resources will remain deprived of its benefits (Polvika, 2000). Conclusion Old age is a phase of life which can be delayed by due care however it cannot be avoided completely. Public and media discourse help in defining social behaviour towards old age and the process of ageing which results in stereotypes and discrimination. Under the influence of this prejudice, elder members of the society are expected to be less efficient, more forgetful and easily dispensable. This discrimination reinforces a behaviour in elderly people which redefines their previously active identity into dormant individual who is expected to refrain from taking part in youthful activities and avoid social contact. However, a careful analysis would reveal that where old age brings illness, it also brings knowledge, experience and wisdom which are necessary for further social advancement. Also, with growing age comes maturity of thoughts and not just forgetfulness. Older people are more committed as compared to the young ones and this resilience is an outcome of their old age. Where main social behaviours stem out of discourse, it is important general public policies and media needs to portray old age as a phase where one becomes authority in his/ her field instead of being dependent on others. References Butler, R.N. 1999. Ageism: Another form of bigotry, The Gerontologist, 19 (2), pp. 234-464. Hertzog, C., McGuire, C. L., & Lineweaver, T. T. 1998. Aging, attributions, perceived control and strategy use in a free recall task, Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 5, pp. 85–106. Lineweaver, T. T. & Hertzog, C. 1998. Adults’ efficacy and control beliefs regarding memory and aging: Separating general from personal beliefs, Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 5, pp. 264–296. Lin, M. Hummerts, M.L. & Harwood, J. 2004. Representation of age identities in on-line discourse, Journal of Aging Studies, 18, pp. 261–274. Mess, T.M. 2006. 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