Page 349 - Essencials of Sociology

322 CHAPTER 10 Gender and Age
ageism prejudice and discrimi-
nation directed against people
because of their age; can be
directed against any age group,
including youth
PEANUTS® Charles M. Schulz
Stereotypes, which play such a profound role in social life, are a basic area of sociological investigation. In contemporary society, the mass media are a
major source of stereotypes.
1979; Fleming et al. 2003). In colonial times, growing old was seen as an accom-
plishment because so few people made it to old age. With no pensions, the elderly
continued to work. Their jobs changed little over time, and they were viewed as
storehouses of knowledge about work skills and sources of wisdom about how to live
a long life.
The coming of industrialization eroded these bases of respect. With better sanitation
and medical care, more people reached old age, and being elderly lost its uniqueness and
the honor it had brought. Industrialization’s new forms of mass production also made
young workers as productive as the elderly. Coupled with mass education, this stripped
away the elderly’s superior knowledge (Cowgill 1974; Lee 2009).
A basic principle of symbolic interactionism is that we perceive both ourselves and
others according to the symbols of our culture. When the meaning of old age changed
from an asset to a liability, not only did younger people come to view the elderly dif-
ferently but the elderly also began to perceive themselves in a new light. This shift in
meaning is demonstrated in the way people lie about their age: They used to say that
they were older than they were but now claim to be younger than their true ages (Clair
et al. 1993).
Today, the meaning of old age is shifting once again—this time in a positive direction.
More positive images of the elderly are developing, largely because most of today’s U.S.
elderly enjoy good health and can take care of themselves financially. If this symbolic
shift continues, the next step—now in process—will be to view old age not as a period
that precedes death but, rather, as a new stage of growth.
Even theories of old age have taken a more positive tone. A theory that goes by the
mouthful gerotranscendence was developed by Swedish sociologist Lars Tornstam. The
thrust of this theory is that as people grow old, they transcend their limited views of
life. They become less self-centered and begin to feel more at one with the universe.
Coming to see things as less black and white, they develop subtler ways of viewing
right and wrong and tolerate more ambiguity (Manheimer 2005; Hyse and Tornstam
2009). However, this theory seems to miss the mark. Some elderly people do grow
softer and more spiritual, but I have seen others turn bitter, close up, and become
even more judgmental of others. The theory’s limitations should become apparent
shortly.
The Influence of the Mass Media
In Chapter 3 (pages 81–83), we noted that the mass media help to shape our ideas
about both gender and relationships between men and women. As a powerful source of
symbols, the media also influence our ideas of the elderly, the topic of the Mass Media
box on the next page.
In Sum: Symbolic interactionists stress that old age has no inherent meaning. There is
nothing about old age to automatically summon forth responses of honor and respect, as