Ageism

Can't Teach Old Dogs New Tricks? Think Again.

Posted by: Anti-Ageism Task Force

—SPEAK YOUR MIND—

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Friday, March 14, 2008—This week, the Anti-Ageism Task Force’s interest was perked by an article on LiveScience.com citing research that debunks the myth that, as people age, they become more conservative.

In "Busting Myth, People Turn More Liberal With Age," LiveScience staff writer Clara Moskowitz reports on recent research from the University of Vermont and Pennsylvania State University which found that, over a span of more than 30 years, Americans' opinions tended to be increasingly liberal as they grow older.

The researchers analyzed data from the U.S. General Social Surveys of 46,510 Americans on their viewpoints regarding politics, economics, race, gender, religion and sexuality. Sociologists Nicholas Danigelis from the University of Vermont and Melissa Hardy from Pennsylvania State University discovered that the stereotype of old people being rigid and/or set in their ways was turned on its head.

Based on the research, Danigelis said politicians and pundits should try to steer clear of stereotypes in the upcoming election.

"The assumption that older voters are stuck their ways of thinking or are likely to go with a conservative candidate and are not open to new information — I think there's a lot of information to suggest that that’s not going to happen," ~ Nicholas Danigelis, Chair, Department of Sociology, University of Vermont.

The study — "Population Aging, Intracohort Aging, and Sociopolitical Attitudes" — was published in the October 2007 issue of the American Sociological Review, and has been cited in The New York Times and the Stanford Social Innovation Review, among other outlets.

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Keywords: ageism, politics, sociopolitics

Comments

No surprise

By Unknown on Mar 18 2008 at 8:58 PM

It brings to mind — calls into question, really — Gloria Steinem’s comment that ““Women are the one group that grows more radical with age.” I’ve written about that on my blog about people over 80 who are still in the workforce — a cohort of old dogs learning new tricks if there ever was one. I wonder when the stereotype originated, and in what context. Thoughts? Please check out my project, So When Are You Going to Retire? (http://www.sowhenareyougoingtoretire.com,) which owes a great deal to ILCUSA's groundbreaking work.

Thanks for stopping by!

By Anti-Ageism Task Force on Mar 19 2008 at 6:41 PM

Thank you for your very astute comments, Ms. Applewhite. We enjoyed visiting your blog. We were immediately drawn to your post entitled: "A persistent fallacy: do older workers compete with younger ones?" A wonderful article.

Best,
Anti-Ageism Task Force

people 100 and over, defying the sterotypes!

By Unknown on Mar 24 2008 at 8:00 PM

As a long-time admirer of Dr. Butler and his work, I am very please to see that he is "going strong" in his later years. Combating ageism has been the focus of my work with centenarians for the past 23 years. Active people 100 and over are providing excellent role models for the future of aging -- they are defying the sterotypes of advanced age as merely a time of decripitude and decline; they are breaking the mold, and are enjoying doing it! I agree with the comment that many people become more liberal as they age, and that's good. Please visit my web site adlercentenarians.org for some inspiring examples of what is possible if we not only live long but age well.

Lynn Peters Adler
Founder and Director
National Centenarian Awareness Project

anti-aging medicine

By Unknown on Mar 25 2008 at 5:43 PM

Can someone point me to a discussion of the term anti-aging medicine, and whether the dislike of the term is based on a fear that calling aging a disease will result in more discrimination against the aged? Thank you, Greg Critser, Pasadena CA

Is There an Anti-Aging Medicine

By Anti-Ageism Task Force on Mar 26 2008 at 7:50 PM

Dear Mr. Critser,

A great place to start would be with our publication: Is There an Anti-Aging Medicine?

http://www.ilcusa.org/pages/publications/healthy-aging/is-there-an-anti-aging-medicine.php

You can download this free-of-charge, or purchase a hard copy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Best regards,
AATF

We need these centenarian role models!

By Unknown on Jun 14 2009 at 4:36 PM

Any attention to our precious centenarian role models is so important. In 2008, the US Census Bureau counted 95,000 American centenarians, with over a million projected by 2050! It's helpful to learn secrets of centenarians all over the world, but people shouldn't overlook those living here as you discuss. They are active mentally and physically, full of wisdom and life experience we can all benefit from... breaking stereotypes as you demonstrate.
America has more centenarians by almost double of any country; they're just more spread out than the blue zones found elsewhere. Other countries where many centenarians were found near each other are starting to see the problems we have dealt with in their younger generations (fast food, less exercise). The "yogurt" people were a hoax. They were using documents from their deceased relatives to lie about their age, fooling many well educated experts. My point is not to ignore good advice from elsewhere, but to have confidence in knowing our American centenarians are well-documented to prove their ages, and they are so impressive to learn more about. Adler (on a previous post) has a wonderful website that highlights these modern American "cents" (adlercentenarians.org).
I am blessed with a healthy, beautiful, active 101 year old grandmother, Elsa Brehm Hoffmann, who has become a national celebrity. Learn more about her "secrets" in the newly released book "Elsa's Own Blue Zone - America's Centenarian Sweethearts' Insights for Positive Aging and Living." At least check out the videos of her on the book website for some happy inspiration, elsasownbluezone.com. Enjoy!

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