An Early Definition of Ageism

An Early Definition of Ageism[1]

Kalish (in 1979) “…argued that this new ageism typified by the claims:

“…that ‘we’ understand how badly you have been treated, that ‘we’ have the tools to improve your treatment, and that if you adhere to our program ‘we’ will make your life considerably better.  You are poor, lonely, weak, incompetent, ineffectual and no longer terribly bright. You are sick, in the need of better housing and transportation and nutrition, and we— the nonelderly and those elderly whom align themselves with us and work with us – are finally going to turn our attention to you, the deserving elderly and relieve you from ageism.”

Contents

Part 1 Origins of ageism

1. Introduction: Too old at 58

2. Ugly and useless: the history of age prejudice

3. Another form of bigotry: Ageism gets on to the agenda

Part 2   Aspects of Ageism

4. The government of old men: Ageism and power

5. The imbecility of old age:  The impact of language

6.  Get your knickers of, granny: Interpersonal relations

7.  Is it essential?:  Ageism and Organizations

Part 3   Rethinking Ageism

8. Theories of Age

9. No more ‘elderly’, no more old age

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[1] Kalish, R. (1979)  The new ageism and the failure models;  a polemic, The Gerontologist  19 (4)  398-402.  Found in the book Ageism: Rethinking Ageing produce by Bill Bytheway in 1995  ISBN  0-335-19176 2(hb)  OPEN UNIVERSITY PRESS