Is this what you expect?
I've been unable to stop thinking about the future recently. However, when I use the term 'future' in this post, I am not referring to the more immediate future of university or careers and the like that I have posted about previously, but rather the unforeseeable period of my life that I know - that everyone knows - is coming.
Old age.
This is a time that many of us, young or old(er), try not to think about too much because we associate it with thoughts of monotony, loneliness and debilitation.There's nothing to do, you're out of touch with 'everyone else' and the highlight of your day is going out for an M&S Tea for Two. We think we have old age figured out. When you're old, you sit around waiting to get ill, and that's it. Right?
What do we see as 'old'?
According to a survey conducted last year, we (the British people) regard anyone over the age of 59 as 'elderly'. Of course, I'm not going to pretend that I think that a 65 year old is still in the flush of youth, but I'm not sure if I share the underlying connotations that many of us link to old age. There is a general consensus that the elderly are somehow separate to 'us'; they are a recipient of our manners but not our interest or, in some cases, even our respect. How many of us have offered a seat to an elderly person on a bus? Likely, a fair few. But how many of us have ever engaged an elderly person in conversation that was not related to us?
How do we perceive the elderly?
If I asked you to name a popular, widely-known role model that was over 60-70 that you'd heard about in the media recently, I dare say that you'd have to think for a few moments. If you were asked the same question, but for someone in their twenties or thirties, it is more likely that the answer would be instantaneous. Our media and social culture is largely youth-driven. Our music is about sex, love, drugs and money, our TV programmes cover a wide range of topics and yet still, for the most part, manage to evade issues or topics that have some relevance to the elderly. Our newspapers, when not reporting on war and the latest economic crisis, scream of youth crime, youth unemployment, education and a multitude of themes relating to the workplace. I am not at all protesting about this coverage - as they are all points of interest and relevance - but how often do we discuss issues that directly influence the lives of the elderly? Sure, we all moan about pensions, but I suspect more because of how it will affect us when (or if) we retire. To me, it seems that we are ignoring an entire generation which, as shown by statistics from www.ageuk.org.uk, actually outnumbers the population of under-18s.
So why are we so determined to sweep old age under the carpet?
What are we so scared of?
In my opinion, the notion of fear is very implicit in the British attitude towards ageing. The only real mention of it in daily media are the adverts promoting 'age-defying' products like skin cream or hair-dye. The moment a person notices a single grey hair, it's a crushing moment that is solved by an immediate hair appointment to hide it. And yet, has this person become somehow disabled by this innocuous change? Of course not, but we have been taught to be so innately afraid of age that we seem to have an unhealthy obsession with staying young.
One of my teachers at school, who has barely crossed the threshold of thirty (and looks even younger than that) spoke of how she feels that several clothing retailers are suddenly no longer available to her because she's "old". This emphasises how people of all ages are susceptible to this type of ageism. We don't seem to allow many images of the elderly to permeate the media - and this issue becomes an even greater problem when it applies to women. Whilst some older men may attain ripe old reputations in the media, women who no longer qualify as a 'spring chicken' are often swept out of sight. According to a poll from 2011, women feel that they become 'invisible' after the age of 46 and their opinions become devalued. This is a serious societal flaw, as women in this age group are still of crucial importance in both an economic and social sense.
We are scared of being seen as weak or incapable; increasing age seems to be portrayed as a process of losing power of some kind. We no longer recognise the benefits wisdom or experience, focusing only on the flaws of old age. It is a common habit in adulthood to avoid sharing one's age unless required to - many adults joke incessantly of "turning 21 again" each birthday and, whilst this is meant humorously, could it disguise a deep-rooted insecurity or anxiety about growing older?
What are the positives of ageing?
When I think of the positive aspects of getting older, family plays a huge role. Children and grandchildren, based on what I have seen with my own grandparents and conversations I have had with other people of a similar age, invigorate what many of us assume is a 'boring' and 'dull' existence. We assume this because, apart from our relationships with our grandparents, the majority of us have no idea what the elderly do in their daily lives!
Another benefit is the complete lack of restraint on one's time. When you are retired, your focuses are your family, your friends and the things you enjoy. School terms, work schedules and holiday limitations are no longer impositions on your time and, depending on financial constraints (which apply to all periods of one's life), you are free to do what you wish with your time. There are many other positives of being older, which you can read about in the following links:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/What-is-So-Good-About-Growing-Old.html
http://www.deeperissues.net/life/25-good-things-about-getting-old/
http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/health/10-great-things-about-getting-older
I think many of us need to rethink how we view old age. Of course, we are in no hurry to wish our lives away by any means, but a positive attitude towards ageing and the elderly needs to be sustained because there are a great number of happy people out there over the age of 59! Not everything is about illness and loneliness - these images are perpetuated by the media and by our personal fears of the unknown. There are positives and negatives that accompany every stage of life, and getting old is no different. In fact, many people feel happier and more confident in middle-age or later life than they did when they were twenty!
Above all, we should view old age as a necessary part of life that, providing we take care of ourselves, is nothing to fear and is wonderful for its own unique reasons. It is not a 'battle' that needs to be fought (despite what the cosmetics industry tells you), but rather an experience that can be embraced if we actually let ourselves do so.
Besides, we all want to get there someday!
What is your opinion on getting older? Do you think our views and portrayal of the elderly should change or not?
Comment below and share your ideas!
Old age.
This is a time that many of us, young or old(er), try not to think about too much because we associate it with thoughts of monotony, loneliness and debilitation.There's nothing to do, you're out of touch with 'everyone else' and the highlight of your day is going out for an M&S Tea for Two. We think we have old age figured out. When you're old, you sit around waiting to get ill, and that's it. Right?
What do we see as 'old'?
According to a survey conducted last year, we (the British people) regard anyone over the age of 59 as 'elderly'. Of course, I'm not going to pretend that I think that a 65 year old is still in the flush of youth, but I'm not sure if I share the underlying connotations that many of us link to old age. There is a general consensus that the elderly are somehow separate to 'us'; they are a recipient of our manners but not our interest or, in some cases, even our respect. How many of us have offered a seat to an elderly person on a bus? Likely, a fair few. But how many of us have ever engaged an elderly person in conversation that was not related to us?
How do we perceive the elderly?
If I asked you to name a popular, widely-known role model that was over 60-70 that you'd heard about in the media recently, I dare say that you'd have to think for a few moments. If you were asked the same question, but for someone in their twenties or thirties, it is more likely that the answer would be instantaneous. Our media and social culture is largely youth-driven. Our music is about sex, love, drugs and money, our TV programmes cover a wide range of topics and yet still, for the most part, manage to evade issues or topics that have some relevance to the elderly. Our newspapers, when not reporting on war and the latest economic crisis, scream of youth crime, youth unemployment, education and a multitude of themes relating to the workplace. I am not at all protesting about this coverage - as they are all points of interest and relevance - but how often do we discuss issues that directly influence the lives of the elderly? Sure, we all moan about pensions, but I suspect more because of how it will affect us when (or if) we retire. To me, it seems that we are ignoring an entire generation which, as shown by statistics from www.ageuk.org.uk, actually outnumbers the population of under-18s.
So why are we so determined to sweep old age under the carpet?
What are we so scared of?
In my opinion, the notion of fear is very implicit in the British attitude towards ageing. The only real mention of it in daily media are the adverts promoting 'age-defying' products like skin cream or hair-dye. The moment a person notices a single grey hair, it's a crushing moment that is solved by an immediate hair appointment to hide it. And yet, has this person become somehow disabled by this innocuous change? Of course not, but we have been taught to be so innately afraid of age that we seem to have an unhealthy obsession with staying young.
One of my teachers at school, who has barely crossed the threshold of thirty (and looks even younger than that) spoke of how she feels that several clothing retailers are suddenly no longer available to her because she's "old". This emphasises how people of all ages are susceptible to this type of ageism. We don't seem to allow many images of the elderly to permeate the media - and this issue becomes an even greater problem when it applies to women. Whilst some older men may attain ripe old reputations in the media, women who no longer qualify as a 'spring chicken' are often swept out of sight. According to a poll from 2011, women feel that they become 'invisible' after the age of 46 and their opinions become devalued. This is a serious societal flaw, as women in this age group are still of crucial importance in both an economic and social sense.
We are scared of being seen as weak or incapable; increasing age seems to be portrayed as a process of losing power of some kind. We no longer recognise the benefits wisdom or experience, focusing only on the flaws of old age. It is a common habit in adulthood to avoid sharing one's age unless required to - many adults joke incessantly of "turning 21 again" each birthday and, whilst this is meant humorously, could it disguise a deep-rooted insecurity or anxiety about growing older?
What are the positives of ageing?
When I think of the positive aspects of getting older, family plays a huge role. Children and grandchildren, based on what I have seen with my own grandparents and conversations I have had with other people of a similar age, invigorate what many of us assume is a 'boring' and 'dull' existence. We assume this because, apart from our relationships with our grandparents, the majority of us have no idea what the elderly do in their daily lives!
Another benefit is the complete lack of restraint on one's time. When you are retired, your focuses are your family, your friends and the things you enjoy. School terms, work schedules and holiday limitations are no longer impositions on your time and, depending on financial constraints (which apply to all periods of one's life), you are free to do what you wish with your time. There are many other positives of being older, which you can read about in the following links:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/What-is-So-Good-About-Growing-Old.html
http://www.deeperissues.net/life/25-good-things-about-getting-old/
http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/health/10-great-things-about-getting-older
I think many of us need to rethink how we view old age. Of course, we are in no hurry to wish our lives away by any means, but a positive attitude towards ageing and the elderly needs to be sustained because there are a great number of happy people out there over the age of 59! Not everything is about illness and loneliness - these images are perpetuated by the media and by our personal fears of the unknown. There are positives and negatives that accompany every stage of life, and getting old is no different. In fact, many people feel happier and more confident in middle-age or later life than they did when they were twenty!
Above all, we should view old age as a necessary part of life that, providing we take care of ourselves, is nothing to fear and is wonderful for its own unique reasons. It is not a 'battle' that needs to be fought (despite what the cosmetics industry tells you), but rather an experience that can be embraced if we actually let ourselves do so.
Besides, we all want to get there someday!
What is your opinion on getting older? Do you think our views and portrayal of the elderly should change or not?
Comment below and share your ideas!