Ageism : stereotyping and prejudice against older persons / edited by Todd D. Nelson.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Nelson, Todd D., 1966-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ageism--United States.

Ageism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 372 pages : illustrations)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, MA : MIT Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Along with race and gender, people commonly use age to categorize -- and form stereotypes about -- others. Of the three categories, age is the only one in which the members of the in-group (the young) will eventually join the out-group (the old). Although ageism is found cross-culturally, it is especially prevalent in the United States, where most people regard growing older with depression, fear, and anxiety. Older people in the United States are stigmatized and marginalized, with often devastating consequences. Although researchers have paid a great deal of attention to racism and sexism, there has been a dearth of research on ageism. A major reason for this neglect is that age prejudice is still considered socially acceptable. As baby boomers approach retirement age, however, there has been increased academic and popular interest in aging. This volume presents the current thinking on age stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination by researchers in gerontology, psychology, sociology, and communication. The book presents theoretical and empirical findings on the origins and effects of ageism, as well as suggestions on how to reduce ageism for the approaching "graying of America."

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Preface

Contributors

I - Origins of Ageism

1 - Doddering But Dear: Process, Content, and Function in Stereotyping of Older Persons

2 - Ageism: Denying the Face of the Future

3 - Implicit Ageism

4 - A Social-Developmental View of Ageism

II - Effects of Ageism

5 - Attitudes toward Older Adults

6 - Ageism in the Workplace: A Communication Perspective

7 - Ageist Behavior

8 - The Paradox of Well-Being, Identity Processes, and Stereotype Threat: Ageism and Its Potential Relationships to the Self in Later Life

III - Reducing Ageism and Future Directions

9 - Acting Your Age

10 - Will Families Support Their Elders? Answers from Across Cultures

11 - Reducing Ageism

12 - Thirty Years of Ageism Research

Index.

Notes:

"A Bradford book."

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-585-44844-2

0-262-28051-5

OCLC:

52304440