However, a stereotype is a stereotype. The stereotype Novak terms “the ageless self” (2009, p. 15), though it promotes a more positive image of older adults, still has the power to disenfranchise, silence, and render invisible those who do not fit within its constraints. This depiction of aging does not represent the breadth of the older population, and the pervasion of this image implies that people with the resources to attain the carefree, active, “age-defying” lifestyle are somehow more deserving of attention and respect.
This parallels a pattern seen in treatment of other oppressed groups, where those who “overcome adversity,” usually by attaining achievements and possessing qualities conventionally within the domain of those with privilege, are more accepted and visible. Such individuals are often held up as inspirational examples, representing a message that “if they can do it, anyone can.”
This message’s corollary is generally left unspoken: if you can’t do it, it’s your fault. This message invalidates real barriers – social, physiological, financial, etc. – that prevent many from attaining the ideal, as well as the notion that the ideal may not be the only desirable way to be (Novak, 2009, pp. 15–16).The prominence and financial power of the Baby Boom generation will improve matters for aging adults, but this will not eliminate age discrimination. The pressure to be "youthful" will not go away as long as prevailing attitudes continue to grant more respect, visibility and acceptance to people who fit into this mold. To truly combat this discrimination, we must examine and disassemble these attitudes.
References
Novak, M. (2009). Issues in aging (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Your excuse is invalid [image]. (n.d.). Facebook. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/georgehtakei
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