Aging Stereotypes

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Aging Stereotypes

Stereotypes can be applied to every demographic background; including the elderly. Some common stereotypes associated with the elderly are that they are not sexually active, they are crazy, demented individuals, have an unpleasant odor, and are slow drivers. In addition they walk around with walkers, wear orthopedic shoes, and watch the Price is Right. Furthermore the elderly are always depicted playing bingo or on shuffle boards wearing sunglasses with large shields.

Although some of this stereotypes do have a merit that are not entirely true; as goes the case with all stereotypes. I know many senior citizens who actually drive faster than teenagers. In fact they are much more reckless than their younger counterparts. As far as being sexually active I would assume that they are not as this is an activity that requires a lot of energy and excitement leaving ones health into question. Walkers and orthopedic shoes are what I would consider justifiable assumptions when it comes to the elderly. Walkers, canes and orthopedic shoes are common amongst the elderly due to poor circulation, impaired balance, lack of strength, and neuromas; a growth of nervous tissue.

A common accessory that I’ve noticed is the dark sunglasses with over-sized shields. These are quite popular among the older population as many of them face vision impairments like sensitivity to light and cataracts; the clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye. The most reoccurring stereotypes associated with the elderly would have to be that they have an unpleasant odor to them and they are angry, senile individuals. Although I have had some encounters with senior citizens who were less than cordial; for the most part I enjoyed my time with them. They were very talkative and shared past experiences with great detail which many feel that they are incapable of doing. In addition with the time spent them not once did I very get an unpleasant smell that everyone seems to get a whiff off. Whether it is a pain relieving cream or rectal discharge do to the inability to "hold it in" I have yet to experience such a smell.

So as you can see they are quite a few stereotypes many of which that I haven’t even mentioned. And although they may start off with some merit most can only be applied to a small percentage of individuals. So if the question asked is there any truth to these stereotypes. I would say to a certain degree yes there is.