Essay On Adultism

Improved Essays
In “Ageism” by Keri DeJong and Barbara J. love, they write that ageism is based on societally constructed ideas of different age groups rather than “biological realities” (535). They quote Robert Butler on the definition of ageism, which they write is “a process of systematic stereotyping of, and discrimination against people because they are old.” They then build on this idea of the oppression of people due to their age, by stating that adultism is “the systematic subordination of younger people, as a targeted group, who have relatively little opportunity to exercise social power in the United States through restricted access to the goods, services, and privileges of society and are denied access to participation in the economic and political life of the society” (536). DeJong and Love go on to write the ways adultism is perpetuated. The internalization of adultism being one of them. Internalized adultism is …show more content…
When I read the first article by DeJong and Love on adultism, I was quick to shut it down. Even after reading about the internalization of adultism, I could not find myself accepting what I believed they were saying. Then, when Bell wrote that “adultism does not apply to all levels of discipline,” as aforementioned, I felt differently and wish they were to have open with that. For me, the issues with accepting adultism as an oppressive system is that I do not believe giving young people complete freedom is good. I think discipline and respect is important, and to learn these behaviors, we get it from those older than us. Now, as a counterargument, I do believe that creating this idea of respecting those older than you, creates a problematic system of power in those who are deemed must be respected. And with this power, can come abuse. Perhaps, the adultism I believe is a problem, is when adults take advantage of this power simply because they

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    The Paramount Issues of High School What assets, features, and rules would the perfect high school have? In Leon Botstein’s article Let Teenagers Try Adulthood, Botstein calls out the issues of modern high school and claims that high school needs to be completely reinvented, offering many ideas as to how schools can better the education and experiences of their students such as having teenagers graduate at sixteen and ending harmful high school culture. Although Botstein makes some good points, the most important issues that need to be corrected to make American high schools more ideal are hiring more caring teachers, removing cliques and social class, and letting teenagers have more responsibility. Teachers are to schools what blood is to the body; schools cannot be schools without them.…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the American society, there are many myths about aging. Novak stated, “Some years ago, Robert Butler coined the term ageism to describe these negative attitudes toward aging (3).” These negative attitudes toward aging come from common sources such as, the media, magazines, advertisements, literature, and popular culture (23). One example of this is the television show, The Simpsons. The show depicts Grandpa Simpson as ignorant, forgetful, and timid.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    But age doesn’t define adulthood. Beck makes it clear that a person may biologically an adult, and participate in adult behaviors but may still be treated as a child if they are under age that legally defines their actions. On the other hand, a person may be of legal age to do certain actions of an adult but not have the maturity that defines adult qualities. Therefore, pinning down the true meaning of an adult is almost…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gender Roles through Mid- 20th Century Rewind to late 19th century/ early 20th century America. A woman’s identity was largely defined by religion and culture. At that time period, men were perceived as having the power. They were expected to be socially, politically, and financially dominant. Women were subservient.…

    • 1314 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Ageism is a type of segregation and preference, especially experienced by seniors (Adult Development and Aging , 2001). Most seniors are rationally and physically dynamic paying little respect to age with an extraordinary arrangement to contribute. Notwithstanding, societal standards underestimate seniors, treat them with lack of respect, make them feel unwelcome and generally sum up as though they were all the…

    • 1438 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In the article “What is the Age of Responsibility?” written by Alan Greenblatt is about the issue of maturity and what the age should be the mark of responsibility but maturity comes not with age but when someone is responsible. Some people mature earlier than others. It’s when people have to make augmentations to their life in order to function well in the real world. Age shouldn't be a symbol for maturity but how one responds to a situation.…

    • 127 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For most high school graduates there are two options. Go to college or join the workforce. Finances play a giant role on which option a graduate will choose. If college is chosen, how is it going to be paid for? Not every student will have the money necessary to pay for college, so then it is either a student loan or financial aid.…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Baby Boomers Ageism

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Baby Boomers and Ageism: Will There Be a Storm? In the article, “The Future of Ageism: Baby Boomers at the Doorstep”, by Charles Longino, he depicts the negative affects of ageism and the impact that baby boomers impending retirement and Medicare will have on society. The term ageism was coined by Robert Neil Butler (1969), it describes the stereotyping and discrimination against a single person or a group based solely on their age (seniors). While the immense population of baby boomers (those born approximately between 1946 and 1964) begin to contemplate retirement, it is on the verge of encountering ageism on a degree never observed before.…

    • 817 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Ageism is an identity category which has affected my life, and is a topic I have been able to learn more about through this class. Keri DeJong and Barbara J. Love examine ageism and adultism in our society, and explain how ageism is the oppression of young people and elders as age-based social identity groups, and the ways in which access to participation in society and relationships are organized on the basis of age. Ageism has affected decisions about power, voice, and decision making as a result of societal expectations rather than biological differences. An example of ageism which I have experienced is the denial of teenagers to vote until they are eighteen years old. Teenagers may be allowed to engage in political campaigns, and help support…

    • 1717 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Understanding Ageism

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Many of us have watched or heard of the show The Office with Steve Carell portraying the manager of a paper company named Dunder Mifflin. The show is known for its dark humor, and in my example, this is no exception. In this episode, Michael Scott is warned by one of the personnel at Dunder Mifflin that the company is changing, and that if he does not do something they are going to get rid of the older staffs to get younger and “better” employees. So Michael decides to have a meeting with the personnel to teach them that “Ageism is illegal.” To prove this he invites one of the company’s founders who is eighty-seven years old, and instead of accomplishing his goal he ends up tumbling in what we would call negative stereotypes about older adults.…

    • 1643 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Henry shows he has access to economic age benefits (i.e. senior discounts) because he is ‘institutionally’ old. However, at the same time, others perceived and interacted with him differently. Like Victor, other people reinforce or identify Henry as holding a ‘non-old’ status as he too argues for old age discounts. I also noticed he felt quite pleased that he did not “look” old even though he wants the “old” age benefits. Though Henry jokingly stated, “they think I look too young,” he later illustrated with great seriousness his dislike towards the concept ‘old age’ stating, “[…] I don’t like the stereotype older people…

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Aging: A Cultural Analysis

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Growing up in the south, children were taught to respect their elders. Respecting an elder maybe in form such as letting them go ahead in line, assisting them with groceries, eating first, saying yes ma’am and no sir. I know I was taught to respect my elders and to this day I still do. I have noticed how the new generation does not care and thinks they are all that matters.…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ageism And Ageism

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ageism stems from our extremely internalised uncertainty of our own ageing and death. In all human societies, youth has been associated with energy, strength, rapidity, biological fertility, and so on. We therefore understand older people as a lower social status, since they have fewer life years ahead of them. 2. Cultural:…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    We should not judge someone due to the fact that they are elder, a different race, study a different religion or have different beliefs about a certain topic. To begin with my outburst, ageism is a stereotype. What most people believe is that those who are considered a “senior citizen” are incapable of doing something a person much younger than them could do. Needless to say, they could be able to, just not as well-done as a younger person. The main reason why is because someone much younger than them has more energy.…

    • 1494 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Human Sexuality

    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Present Personal Views and Beliefs on Human Sexuality Human sexuality can take on a number of connotations; all of which can vary depending on someone’s background, personal view and beliefs. Over the years my understanding of sexuality has changed as I have grown and matured. Present day, my sexuality plays a major part in my everyday life. My sexuality determines how I interact with others and is integrated into my feelings and reactions. I consider myself a very sexual being, my femininity is emanated into who I am.…

    • 1056 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays