Free Article Review About Ageism

Ageism is the stereotyping of persons purely based on their advancement in age. This led to the formation of groups such as the Americans for Generational Equity (AGE). The group aims at sensitization of issues such as the availing of resources and healthcare and resources to the elderly. However, some scholars believe that the special treatment availed to the elderly results in discrimination against the young. Recent definitions of ageism include this factor. This means that the trend involves changes in the beliefs that people have towards how they should treat people of particular age, especially the old.
The changes have occurred progressively over time hence creating certain form of bias and stereotyping. In earlier days, the old folk received a lot of respect and admiration for their wisdom. However, industrialization and development resulted in the creation of a group of young people well familiarized with technology. The perception towards the old changed from seeing them as old to outdated. The scientific research findings on memory loss and its relation to advancements in age continue to affect perceptions towards the old. Ageism denies an individual the right consideration since it ignores one’s actual identity and substitutes it with stereotyping.
However, ageism is now an inherent part of the human culture and physical aspects are used to describe the old. The old receive alienation and little consideration from young people. Research shows that the old do not have ample deterioration in physical fitness and memory loss as is normally perceived. The media plays an active role in promoting prejudices towards the old and the young. The media portrays young people as indecisive, reckless and non-ambitious. These negative mindsets result in high unemployment rats and increase in crime rate. Other consequences of ageism include poor family relations and increase in stress levels among the young and old individuals who are victims.