I am a big fan of the National Center for Creative Aging. Their news briefs focus on the growing trend toward countering ageism. While I have used anecdotal evidence on the power positive aging self-esteem has on health, memory and general well-being as we age. Today, those anecdotes are being reinforced by scientific studies and shared by a growing number of spokespersons.
The lead story in today’s News Briefs was a story from the New York Times about David Brooks. The opening sentence read, “David Brooks describes the increasing benefits of aging by debunking commonly believed myths.” What bothered me was the title, “The Geezers’ Crusade.” Why would someone tag such a positive story with such a stereotypical term? The answer is of course mindless ageism. Even when it is not intentional, the perpetuation of aging stereotypes is still harmful.
Successful aging advocates take two steps forward and the media retards the momentum with an ageist headline. The Books story shared that results of research documenting that, “that participants had not surrendered in their older age, but instead became more outgoing and self-confident.” A headline might have been, “Are Your Perceptions of Aging Outdated?”
Other stories presented like stories of the positive impact of music, the arts and lifelong learning were having. Still, ageism remains the last bastion of discrimination in America. I commend the Center for Creative Aging for its continued work and am confident that, with the aging of the population, we will have the storm troops to overcome ageism in the next decade.
When people become as offended by ageist jokes as they do by racist jokes, we will have achieved a noble goal. It will not be easy. As stated by Ellen Langer, “One of the insidious aspects of ageism is that it can operate without conscious awareness, control or intention to harm.” If we accept aging as a period of decline and loss without challenging our own perceptions, we will become a victim of the self-fulfilling prophecy aging. We all need to become more mindful our own aging self-image.
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