Aging in the Media
Ageism is generally defined as applying false stereotypes to individuals over a certain age, or a change in the way older people are treated in regards to their competence and value in society. This definition of ageism is the epitome of the discourse of the topic within the media today. The article that I read speaks in detail about this topic and how it is a general depiction of how the elderly are viewed in today’s society. The number of Americans 65 and older is projected to double over the next three decades from 35.9 million to nearly 70 million, comprising 20 percent of the population in 2030 compared to less than 13 percent now. With these things in mind, we must consider that if we do not like it then it must change or we will be suffering the consequences for ourselves.
In the article, it speaks at length about the elderly and how they have been known to spend an unusually long amount of time in the restaurant. The article mentions that not only do they spend a lot of time, but most elderly customers don’t purchase much food, which doesn’t lend much profit for the companies. This has caused much frustration for the companies such as McDonalds, who recently called the police on individuals who were “sitting at the Brooklyn establishment for over 4 hours and wouldn’t leave when asked.”
In my opinion, the article is in congruence with how Ageism is defined because it categorizes all elderly as being “sluggish” “freeloaders” who need to be kicked out of public areas for loitering. Although these are my initial thoughts on the paper, there are also other aspects to consider in this situation to consider. One factor to consider is the effect that over population in restaurants actually has to a business. It’s common knowledge, that the more crowded a restaurant is, the fewer customers that will be able to dine, which will lead to a decline in profits. It is for this reason that I personally could understand some move towards...