Question

Think of an older person you know well, perhaps a grandparent, other relative, or neighbor. How does this person defy certain stereotypes of aging?

Answer 1

Ageism is discrimination based on someone’s age. Currently in today’s society this prejudice behavior occurs often and maybe you have practiced this behavior without noticing it. People in today’s society stereotype elderly people based on the image that society portrays of them. Society’s stereotypes on older people consist of those not having great physical ability, unwilling or unableto learn new things and having low income because they can no longer work like they use to in their younger age while resulting them to live off of the government. An example of a stereotype in society is that older people are made out to be mean and unreasonably rude. In the movie industry, elders usually play a role as cranky, mean, wicked, troublesome and ungrateful which paints a general image in society’s head and perceived to be the behavior of most elderly people. Some elderly people grow physically frail and, therefore, dependent on caregivers, which increases their risk of elder abuse.