I'm Not Going to Get Old

Term Paper # 10099

Aging
Psychology > Social
Sociology

A paper which shows the public's changing perspective of aging.

2,114 words () | 12 sources | APA | 2002 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the process of aging has changed. It shows how the media has influenced this change by portraying negative stereotypes of the elderly and how people are trying to stay young as long as possible by having surgery performed on them, staying active in their old age, and retiring later on in life.

From the Paper:

"Today, it is seen as a crime to grow old. When we think of the elderly, we no longer see the heroic image of George Washington or Ben Franklin. Instead, we see the image of a frail and weak person. "Other cultures value age and the wisdom of experience; we disparage and mock it, viewing it as a weakness, a personal misfortune" (Ross). This image is in part due to negative stereotypes of the elderly being portrayed in the media. People are afraid of becoming like this image and to prevent it, they are investing in the many anti-aging products on the market, like hair-dye and anti-aging cream. They are also being more productive in their old age. Today, men and women alike are participating in a fight against time and they are refusing to grow old."