Negative Self Images In Old Age example essay topic

Our Perception of Age: A Cross-Culturally Examination For some Canadians, old age can be a sad time. Feelings of infirmity combined with oppressive boredom are common. This research paper will attempt to tackle the difficult task of analyzing our culturally bound notion of old age and its consequences for older people as well as the meaning of age cross-culturally. By approaching this subject with a cross-cultural perspective, western people may realize there are alternative ways to regard the elderly as well as alternative ways the elderly can regard themselves. Different countries and their ideologies will be explored in comparison to cultural construction of old age in American and Canadian society.

The first section of this paper will address certain positive and negative aspects of current Canadian thought patterns. The second section of this paper will address, discuss, and analyse how countries such as France (positive image of the elderly), Britain (negative image of the elderly), and Japan (positive image of the elderly), how their culturally constructed notions of old age has effected the elderly in their societies. Finally, the conclusion will suggest different or more positive ways to view ourselves, and people that happen to be our elders. In terms of appearance and sexuality, there exists a double standard of aging. address certain positive and negative aspects of current Canadian thought patterns 1 The image of the older woman as an inactive, unhealthy, asexual, and ineffective person has been perpetuated over the years through the transmission of inaccurate information, the media and oppressive attitudes of men and society alike. Regardless of what profession or status a woman holds, she still sees aging as a negative aspect of her life. This stems in large part from the negative reception she receives from the outside world.

(Block 1981: 12) It is also becoming evident that these negative perceptions of older women are held not only by society but also by older women themselves. If people would quit accenting my age-I'd probably never realize I'm 51, but when I'm turned away from the YWCA because I'm too old 1/4 I'd forgotten what the "Y" stood for in YWCA (Brown, 1973). Think what it is 1/4 to be told every day that you are not a woman but a tired object that should disappear 1/4. I am bitter and frustrated and wasted 1/4.

(Moss, 1970). (Block 1981: 18). Americans share the attitude that aging is a disease rather than a normal process. The ridiculous amount of cosmetic surgery such as liposuction, face lifts, chin tucks, eye lifts, silicone injections, face peels, hair implants, silicone breast implants, and botox injections are on the rise. Dependent on physical appearance and youth for part of their identity and self-worth, older women are forces to think less of themselves, because facial lines and wrinkles skin are devalued in American society (Block 1981: 18).

Both males and females accept the social belief that after the early or mid-40's, women are no longer sexually attractive and therefore no longer interested in sex. Women are defined as undesirable some 20 years earlier than men. Discovered that for women over 60 capacity to reach orgasm was not diminished. (Block 1981: 32) 2 It is widely known that compared to older men, older women are older, more likely to be widowed, more likely to be less well-educated, and more likely to have inadequate incomes, as well as inadequate self esteem. (Kebert 1976: 282). It is reported that women of middle-age suffer mental disorders three to four times as much as middle-aged men (Block 1981: 15).

Twenty eight point nine percent of retired women reported to be lonely often compared to men twenty one point one percent. Forty three point eight percent of women reported high anxiety, compared to thirty one point three percent of men. Twenty three point six percent of women reported low stability of self compared to eight point four percent of men. Twenty nine point six percent of women reported high depression, compared to twenty point one percent of men. These data were gathered from and compared between retired male and female teachers in a large Midwestern state and people who retired from a large Midwestern telephone communication company. (Kebert 1976: 285).

This contrasts sharply with the cultural notion that males in their 40's are still sexually desirable. Physical appearance and sexuality vs. personality, intelligence, career achievement, and earning power (Block 1981: 31). address, discuss, and analyse how countries such as how their culturally constructed notions of old age has effected the elderly in their societies Austria The study also showed that the attitude toward growing old was that they never or very seldom thought about themselves getting older. But even two-thirds of the 50-60 year olds did not occupy themselves with thoughts about growing older, and even more than half of the 60-70 year olds ignored this subject (Schroots 1999: 4). Two thirds of those surveyed, in relation to their own age, responded with 'very / rather confident'.

Primarily those who did not reject growing older were confident, while those who occupied themselves with growing older were more frequently those who were worried. A third theme with which the study concerned itself were concepts of age and stereotype. In order not to emphasize only the negative components of age, advantages of age were also inquired into. The greatest advantages of age were considered to be 1. Above all a late freedom 2. Life experience, and 3.

Material security (Schroots 1999: 4). The largest importance was attached to such themes as: peace, more freedom, nor more work obligations, freedom fro stress and pressure, and so on. The myth of universal retirement shock has already been refuted by an Austrian study on the re-integration of older generations in the seventies (Schroots 1999: 4). The 'deficit model of old age' by which the elderly person is imagined to be a defective adult, therefore, does not apply to Austria, too (Schroots 1999: 16).

Germany German Longitudinal Study on Midlife and Aging - ILSE Within the research program 'Active Aging' initiated in 1990 by the Ministry of Research and Technology. This study aims at investigating individual, social and material conditions for a healthy, self-determined and satisfied aging. It was the intention to gain representative data taking into account sociocultural, medical and sociological aspects. (Schroots 1999: 55). It included socialization processes, personality (particularly activity and coping-styles), eating habits, and life style (e. g., sports, health behavior and hygiene) which required an interdisciplinary approach. Therefore professional biomedical, sociological, psychological, sports research and economical expertise all contribute (Schroots 1999: 56).

Sweden The mean expectancy of life at birth is 76 years for men and 81 years for women which is among the highest in the world. In Sweden, the households are becoming smaller for all age groups including elderly cohorts. From 34% of the aged living alone in '75 to 59% living alone in '94, with only 2% living with an offspring. Pensions, access to rather inexpensive public services and modern housing has also enables the elderly to maintain a life-style independent of kin.

Around two thirds of th elderly have a child within 15 km. Th other 1/3 seems to see the no less (Schroots 1999: 124). These are two main public support systems for the elderly in Sweden. They are Public Services and different kinds of institutions, from sheltered living to nursing homes. Help is officially the primary formal support system, though these services make up about 35% of total budgets of old age care. The municipal social agencies are responsible for supplying Home Help Services, which include cleaning, cooking, washing and personal hygiene.

Lately, the tendency has been to give more help to fewer clients, mostly 80 and over. Only 8% of the aged 65 or older use home help services. Aged 80+ 22%. Now public policies have come to stress the importance of older people in need of help staying in their own homes, this being the most humane and also the most economical approach Those elderly who now live in institutions usually have great health problems and often have different kinds of handicaps. Unlike the situation in many other countries, nearly all institutional care of the elderly takes place in publicly owned and operated facilities.

Evidence strongly suggests that both informal - mostly families - and formal care givers provide more care for the frail elderly today than ever before. Old age care in the broad sense is thus mainly financial support, not various kinds of hands-on care (Schroots 1999: 125). The Netherlands These data illustrate the WHO dictum that it is more important to add life to ears that just years to life. The Netherlands is a welfare state with numerous provisions for the Dutch population in terms of state pensions, health care, unemployment benefits, etc. The general aim of the Groningen Longitudinal Study on Functional Status and Need for Care is to enhance the understanding of how psychosocial factors, including behavioral variables, influence functioning, well-being and the use of supportive and institutional care. Personal and environmental factors are assumed to moderate the effects of functional limitations on disability and quality of life.

GLAS also includes a Fitness study (Schroots 1999: 84). the conclusion will suggest different or more positive ways to view ourselves, and people that happen to be our elders I don't have any fears and tragedies that I had when I was younger. I can say what I feel, I am not embarrassed by many things any more, and my personality is better (Lowenthal, Thurn her, and Chiriboga, 1975). (Block 1981: 18). Older women do not have to accept society's perception of them. Instead, older women can have positive self-images that reflect their personal attitudes; those older women who have negative self-images in old age more than likely had negative self-images in their younger years (Block 1981: 16).

Older women in the future will have more models of women who have been recognized and honored for their achievements. The goal for these women will be self-actualization through many pathways. Older women will then be able to look back on their lives with satisfaction, knowing that they have accomplished their goals, whether they were raising a family, pursuing a career, participating in public life-or all of these. Women who never marry will not be pitied, and women who marry will be treated as an equal partner in the marriage (Block 1981: 20). In some countries, older women are free to walk unescorted, to interact with men, and to engage in some kind of business enterprise, privileges not accorded younger women. A number of cultures permit older women to exercise power and authority over all younger women in the extended family.

As a result, younger women in these societies often eagerly anticipate the acquisition of privileges that accompanies middle and old age (Block 1981: 15).