(IMAESCII516) Weekly Forum Reflection 1: On Ageist and Learning Stereotypes of the Elderly

My post offers some similarity to Nelson's (2011) observation of how Americans are promoting ageist stereotypes, and give it an Asian context. 

First, Asian culture is predominantly orientated towards family, including the elderly. Respect, 'filial piety' and obedience towards the elderly constitutes an essential part of expected and performed social values. Yet, various organisations still set mandatory age requirements, disenfranchising the elderly.

Second, discriminatory practices in hiring and promotions still exist, bringing disadvantage for the capable elderly. Employers think that the elderly will contribute minimally to the economy, so they put them in rather menial jobs. 

Lastly, automation and the new technologies impinged pressure on Asian economies to rely on relatively younger workers for positions requiring faster turnarounds to remain competitive and achieve growth.

Nevertheless, we still need to value the elders and their contribution to the society they built for us. We owe them a lot!

Happy to continue the discussion! - McRhon

(A photo with some elders I met in a community in Myanmar, December 2012. Photo by Terence)

Referred text: 

Nelson T.D. (2011) Ageism: The Strange Case of Prejudice Against the Older You. In: Wiener R., Willborn S. (eds) Disability and Aging Discrimination. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.gla.ac.uk/10.1007/978-1-4419-6293-5_2