I am doing a project and I'm trying to show the ageism in our society and even in our performance arts. If you are over the age 60, what are your feelings on ageism and how do you think we portray aging in out society?
205935
Imo ageism is much more directed towards women (in show business in particular) until they reach a certain age at which point both sexes seem to suffer equal discrimination. There is the old saying that 'Men mature' and women age.\n\nMen like Sean Connery can be considered a sex-symbol at 65 but there are far fewer women than men that are still considered 'sexy' when they reach 65.\n\nI'm not saying that everyone thinks the same way but it's something that I've noticed in the media, the way the sexes are perceived as they age.\n\nWestern culture (imo) has far less respect for it's aging population than in many other cultures where the elderly are revered for their experience and wisdom.\n\nFor example in Turkish culture and Japanese and many middle-Eastern cultures the older person is given a lot more respect which actually increases as they age but in many Western cultures the elderly are considered to be a burden and a liability. Obviously I'm generalising here but in my opinion that is the general consensus if not completely across the board.
271823
I think it's outdated.  It was fine when life expectancy was thirty.  i think it's impractical to believe that people can continue to grow and mature as individuals and still love a person that they met in their teens/twenties.\nIt's great if you can do it.  I just don't think the people who have have grown very much in that time.  They've stayed stuck in their ruts and comfort zones.
336286
Brilliant stuff! I agree with all your rants. It's great to hear that someone else gets bugged by those things.\n\nCurrently, my rants are:\n\n1.People that think any woman over 40 is having the menopause (the average age is 50!!) This is just another way to put women down, and its not even accurate!!\n\n2. Men in their 50s or older who think a woman of their own age is way too old for them and are sure that women half their age are gagging to go out with them!\n\n3. People who automatically make assumptions about people - stereotyping them (as above)\n\nOK, from this you can guess my age!!! But I'm not menopausal, just feisty.\n\nLook forward to reading more rants!!!
182018
I will be 60 0n May 30. I am a college professor and one of the subjects I teach is Politics and Government. I also teach Philosophy and History. I think the average age of people answering questions about politics and government is 45-60. I have a Masters Degree in Public Management. So if you have any question, I shall be glad to answer them. You can contact me by Yahoo Messenger or my e-mail address which you can see in my profile.
553631
I agree with you completely. I think it's old men who think girls of 16 are sweet.  I felt terrible at 16 - spotty, self-conscious and plump. (My mum thought I was gorgeous though.)
130727
I can believe 40 is the new 20! I just turned 39 ,and when I tell people im 39..no one believes me. So yes if you take care of your body and your skin and you dont dress in old people clothes...(and I dont mean dress like a teenager either) But at least in stlye clothes and a in style hairdo.\n\n  Also attitude plays a large part  in how we look and feel. Me..well , im never going to grow up completely!
252194
25 would work for me!  I'm 53 & my generation never trusted anyone over 30 anyway!  We should all die young & happy!
677142
We are doing about that in sociology at the moment! \n\nWe are doing about how youth in increasingly subject to preventative targeting and restriction from public space, and we have already tried the classical music treatment in England and it has worked really well!!  Im not sure when exactly but it was about 2 yrs ago that I heard about it being played in train stations at night.\n\nI think it pretty much does work....who wants to listen to Stravinsky at their favourite hang out place? Who would want to listen to Public Enemy over a romantic meal? I think the reasons it works are obvious.\n\nI think its a great Idea and although most of the people on my course say it was an outrage and the result of unfair stereotyping..........they seem to forget that young ppl can feel intimidated by other young ppl and are the  main victms of youth crime. So the interests its protecting arent some great opressive "force" hovering above about the descend at any minute to encapture us all, as some ppl seem to annoyingly and stupidly believe. I think I am the only one being honest in  our seminars sometimes, the rest just follow whatever view is fashionable and non offensive to hold. It does my head in as you are probably seeing right now!!\n\nWhen has it been the right to intimidate people and cause trouble? Its addressing a real and exisiting problem and it frustrates me that no one wants to say it.
176725
What age feels comfortable? I think intellectual capacity should be what we focus on more than age, that being the case, it still feels weird to have a 7th grader hitting on you lol. I'm 20 as well so I know what you mean. I think as long as you're on the same mental page, it's ok, but 84 is maybe pushing it...
506660
Not at all! Some of my best students are the older ones. \n\nTraditional students (the younger ones) tend to be intimidated by non-traditional students, and vice versa. But the students who are willing to see beyond age get the most from each other. A lot of my traditional students find that the non-trads are insightful and motivated, and they like being around students like that. \n\nAlso, the place I'm teaching at right now, more than half of the students are older than me (I'm 28). But they realize that age doesn't matter. \n\nOne more thing, I had a student who was 76 years old. He was fantastic! All of the students loved him. :)
429968
This reminds me of the time that my grandfather hollered at me....\n"HOW OLD ARE YOU NOW, BOY"\n\n"FIVE" I said.\n\nHe replied..."WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE, I WAS SIX."\n\nWhy does the older generation feel the need to out-do or compete with the younger generation. Exactly. I'm glad I could help.
473459
I was the same way. Even today at 23, I have friends who are my age and who are a significant amount of years older. I think when you're young and hanging out with older people, it shows the maturity level you possess. When you're an adult, I guess you stop asking everyone's age and just look at people as people. If you have things in common with them or just enjoy their personalities, you don't even consider age.
663505
Hey girlfriend I'm 44 and I'm in the prime of my life and I feel young and I been told I look young for my age. We are still young. 40 is just the beginning. Don't think so much about death Just be happy and live everyday to the fullest. I sometimes get scared too but all I can do is pray and ask god to at least let me live as long as my father did and he was only 67. Now you tell me that is young Huh? So see we are still young. Actually younger guys ask me out. The older we get the better we look and feel!
499537
that social stigma is so outdated!  Who cares if the woman is older than the guy - VERY unimportant.  \n\nNo one seems to care if a man is older than the woman - why is that???  It all has to do with our ideas about sex and gender roles.
430396
We are all getting older and most of us will some day become "aged".  A society is known and remembered for how it treats its weakest and most defenseless, and the aged are certainly part of that group.   \n\nA society can support its aged by enabling them to retain as much dignity and independence as possible.  This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including establishment of affordable accessible housing and provision of home care services for those who can no longer quite keep up with the demands of running a household.  Meals on Wheels are important to many older people, as are special transportation services, telephone services for the deaf and hard of hearing, and assistive living devices such as "grabbers" to allow a person to pick up an item from the floor without bending, walkers, and various tools that make everyday tasks easier.  If each of us did a couple of hours a week of volunteer service to help the aged, their lives could probably be made much happier and less stressful and many more older people could continue to live in their own homes.  Kindness, caring and compassion go a long way and make a huge difference.\n\nThe aged need human contact and companionship, just as we all do.  Pairing elementary and high schools with seniors' complexes can often do mch to alleviate the loneliness of old age.  \n\nSupporting the aged is not the responsibility of governments alone, but part of the responsibility of all of us.  It is sometimes good to reflect, and to remember that the people we affect unthinkingly today may be our caregivers tomorrow.   Getting old is a fact of life.  My approach is to treat the aged of today the way I would like to be treated when I am old.
483844
The first factor that is postulated to contribute to ageism is the fear of death in Western society.....\n\nThe second factor postulated by Traxler (1980) to contribute to ageism is the emphasis on the youth culture in American society. For example, the media, ranging from television to novels, place an emphasis on youth, physical beauty, and sexuality.......\n\nBoth ends of the life cycle are viewed as unproductive, children and the aged. The middle-aged are perceived as carrying the burdens imposed by both groups (Butler, 1969). Children, however, are viewed as having future economic potential.. \n\nPoorly controlled gerontological studies have reinforced the negative image of the older adult\n\nFrom a fairly large article on ageism, Looks a bit American, bit feminist ,not read it all myself yet but it seems ok
332741
i think that we have the ability to walk, talk, and love. i know there are a long list of things. but we all need to appreciate life alittle more. what the hell is this world becoming. im 31 and it has changed so much from when i was 15. thats sad