Kids dressing up as an old person isn’t harmless fun, it’s ageist

A Report on Ageism and Stereotypes

Introduction

A child once approached me, hunched over, carrying a vacuum cleaner like a walking stick. In a wobbly voice, he asked:

Do you want to play grannies?
The idea came from the children’s TV show Bluey, which has episodes, a book, magazine editions and an image filter about dressing up as “grannies”.

Children are also dressing up as 100-year-olds to mark their first “100 days of school,” an idea gaining popularity in numerous places.

Is this all just harmless fun?

Stereotypes and Ageism

When I look at the older people in my life, or the patients I see as a geriatrician, I cannot imagine how to suck out the individual to formulate a “look”.

But Google “older person dress-ups” and you will find Pinterests and Wikihow pages doing just that.

Waistcoats, walking sticks, glasses and hunched backs are the key. If you’re a “granny,” don’t forget a shawl and tinned beans. You can buy “old lady” wigs or an “old man” moustache and bushy eyebrows.

This depiction of how old people look and behave is a stereotype. And if dressing up as an old person is an example, such stereotypes are all around us.

The Harm of Stereotyping

There is some debate about whether stereotyping is intrinsically wrong, and if it is, why. But there is plenty of research about the harms of age stereotypes or ageism. That’s harm to current old people and harm to future old people.

The World Health Organization defines ageism as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or ourselves based on age.”

Ageism contributes to social isolation, reduced health and life expectancy and costs economies billions of dollars globally.

The Impact on Health

When it comes to health, the impact of negative stereotypes and beliefs about ageing may be even more harmful than the discrimination itself.

In laboratory studies, old people perform worse than expected on tasks such as memory or thinking after being shown negative stereotypes about aging. This may be due to a “stereotype threat.” This is when a person’s performance is impaired because they are worried about confirming a negative stereotype about the group they belong to. In other words, they perform less well because they’re worried about acting “old.”

The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Another theory is “stereotype embodiment”. This is where people absorb negative stereotypes throughout their life and come to believe decline is an inevitable consequence of ageing. This leads to biological, psychological and physiological changes that create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have seen this in my clinic with people who do well, until they realise they’re an old person – a birthday, a fall, a revelation when they look in the mirror. Then, they stop going out, stop exercising, stop seeing their friends.

Evidence for “stereotype embodiment” comes from studies that show people with more negative views about ageing are more likely to have higher levels of stress hormones (such as cortisol and C-reactive protein) and are less likely to engage in health behaviors, such as exercising and eating healthy foods.

Ageism in Society

One in two people have ageist views, so tackling ageism is complicated given it is socially acceptable and normalized.

Think of all the birthday cards and jokes about ageing or phrases like “geezer” and “old duck.” Assuming a person (including yourself) is “too old” for something. Old people say it is harder to find work and they face discrimination in health care.

Reducing Ageism

How can we reduce ageism? We can reduce ageism through laws, policies and education. But we can also reduce it via intergenerational contact, where old people and young people come together. This helps break down the segregation that allows stereotypes to fester.

Think of the TV series “Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds” or the follow-up “Old People’s Home for Teenagers.” More simply, children can hang out with their older relatives, neighbors and friends.

We can also challenge a negative view of aging. What if we allowed children to imagine their lives as grandparents and 100-year-olds as freely as they view their current selves? What would be the harm in that?

Conclusion

In conclusion, ageism and stereotypes about aging have significant negative impacts on individuals and society as a whole. It is crucial to address these issues in order to promote inclusivity, well-being, and sustainable development for all. By challenging stereotypes, fostering intergenerational connections, and promoting positive views of aging, we can work towards a more equitable and age-friendly world.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one-third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
• SDG 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 3.4: Mortality rate attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
• Indicator for SDG 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age group

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Based on the article, the issues discussed are connected to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. The specific targets identified are SDG 3.4, which focuses on reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promoting mental health and well-being, and SDG 10.2, which aims to empower and promote the social inclusion of all individuals regardless of age. The indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards these targets are the mortality rate attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for SDG 3.4 and the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by age group for SDG 10.2.

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Source: marinij.com

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