Question

How does culture influence people's ideas about the elderly and when old age begins? Can you identify cultural changes that are likely to affect your own perceptions of the onset of old age and of the elderly?

Answer 1

The culture in which an individual dwell shapes their values, perspectives, attitudes and general opinion towards everything with which they are surrounded. There are many positive and negative stereotypes related to old age and elderly, and these shapes the thinking or attitude of people towards the old age and elderly. Because everybody wants to be in their youth stage, old age is considered as negative stage. This trend of viewing old age in negativity is increasing from past few decades. Before old age was respected for its wisdom and practicality. Elderly were not considered as burden, they were considered as productive and well cared in the family.

But with the increase in the nuclear family, where both partners work, and are busy in their career, looking after elderly has become an issue. This perception of elderly and old age has been thoroughly promoted by the media, which has aggravated the problem. Now, more negative stereotypes are associated with old age, due to which people are not willing to accept old age as a natural phase of life, fight against it, and are in a race against. This has negatively affected the image of elderly who now has to face more discrimination and are more prejudiced.