TITLE:
Disability and Healthy Ageing as Stereotypizing Paradigms and Forms of Ageism: The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemia
AUTHORS:
Alejandro Klein
KEYWORDS:
Ageism, Helpless, Healthy, Stereotypes, COVID-19
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.10 No.6,
June
21,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: It analyses the ancient tradition of
ageism that still persists in Western society, with roots going back to Greece,
persistently present throughout Western society around, primarily, the stereotype of helplessness and
decrepitude as social and identity categories of the older adult. It takes into
account the emergence of a “positive” ageism around a stereotype of the older
adult in terms of vigour, social adaptation and renewal of identity. Purpose: To develop an analysis of the gerontological
literature in the wake of the COVID-19
pandemic and the measures implemented with older adults, which ultimately reveal a resurgence of
ageism. Methods: Review of the specialized literature of the last 8
years, in addition to that focused on the critical analysis of the health
measures adopted with older adults in the face of the coronavirus. Results: The experience of ageism remains widespread and prevalent in the social structure, showing assumptions about
frailty and decrepitude caused (apparently)
by age. Conclusions: Researchers should focus the study of ageism not only on rational structures, interweaving
an interdisciplinary approach and broadening the contexts of study
towards more cross-cultural and intracultural research, seeking to develop a
more holistic understanding of ageism: studying
both positive and negative aspects of ageism, and integrating the study
of ageism with the study of the proximity of ageing society.