Relevant Research

• Featherstone & Hepworth - Media representations

  Media images of aging have contributed to -ve stereotypes
• Bernardes - Media representations

  Middle-aged ppl are underrepresented in media.
• Sontag (links to ageism)

  Ageism leads to stereotypes that limit the social roles of the elderly in society
• Milne

  Old ppl aren't just 1 homogenous group but actually 2 distinct groups; ppl who just retired & those aged 80+
• Moore & Conn - Old Pat


  • Moore disguised herself as an 85-year-old woman called 'Old Pat'
  • Wore make-up to look wrinkly + uneven shoes so she'd use a stick
  • Played 'Old Pat' in 114 US cities + 2 Canadian provinces
  • Was robbed, assaulted, faced abuse - her self-esteem suffered + started viewing herself as less important
• MORI - Work/employment

  38% of discrimination cases filed after 2006 said age was the cause
• FE News - Work/employment

  36% ppl aged 50-69 feel disadvantaged for jobs due to their age
• The Sun - Work/employment

  90%+ of ppl have faced -ve treatment at work due to age
• Personnel Today, Germany + employment - Work/employment

  UK has a 50% higher rate of economic inactivity among older workers compared to Germany
• Children + poverty

  3.5M kids in poverty; almost 1/3 of all kids