10 Chapter 10: Age – Cultural Effect of Numbers

Chapter Overview:

A culturally universal human experience that anyone can experience at any time is ageism. Ageism is a type of discrimination based on age. Age and stereotypes linked to age are pervasive. One of the most pervasive beliefs is that youth is better than old age in cognition, economics, and productivity. This myth is devastating to workplaces and social institutions when young people and mature adults cannot collaborate or reach a shared understanding. The reality is that we will all have to interact with others of various ages. Our own fear and pressure of ageing and losing our “edge” must be addressed for us to move beyond our inaccurate beliefs and values around age.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the social determinants of health.
• Distinguish chronological age from psychological age and social age.
• Analyze how age is socially constructed.
• Identify the biological effects of ageing.
• Describe age stratification as a hierarchical system of power and privilege.
• Define ageism and give examples.