Essay Example on Aging Stereotypes and Their Impact on Society: Jared Diamond's Argument

Jared Diamond in a talk to the society opens a conversation about aging and how society takes it. Diamond in his speech accuses the society of developing and creating stereotypes about the aged people. He introduces the warning that if the different cultures continue with the stereotypes, the cultures continue to act as a barrier towards achieving a healthier society especially for the aging people in the society (United Nations n.p). Diamond's argument on aging stereotypes forms the discussion on this paper. Aging stereotypes are the foremost elements that contribute to the hindrance of creating a healthier aging society. Stereotypes promote an unhealthy aging society in the following ways;

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Firstly, stereotypes pave the way for the existence of myths. Myths are beliefs that are otherwise not true that have been used to brainwash the people into believing particular perspectives. Myths about old people limit the way they receive health promotion and programs. Myths about people of old age which according to Isabel are those above 65 years (Diamond n.p). With the existence of myths, people above the age of 65 are neglected from active interventions on national health programs. Most national health programs are left for a younger generation who according to statistics are rarely interested. According to Diamond evidence for more than a decade has shown that epidemiologic disease is controlled by the adoption of healthy lifestyles or leaving unhealthy lifestyles. However, this option is not considered when dealing with older people in many cultures. For many cultures, older people have traditionally been stereotyped to be inflexible, unwilling, and unable to change health attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles. All these stereotypes tend to be a lie. According to Diamond, the society and important health practitioners need to develop the belief and instill a culture that older people can be actively involved in activities to promote health behaviors amongst themselves. It should not be assumed that activities of health programs and promotions are too strenuous for old people yet they also contribute to the huge unhealthy population.

Diamond suggests particular cultures that endorse people above the age of 65 in a way that they feel accepted and contributors towards their health in society. Acceptance of the older generation into their health system can be introduced in the society through the usage of existing knowledge. Most people within the discriminative cultures are unaware of what they are causing to the aged. Public cultural education should be introduced to the members of the different cultures that discriminate against elderly people (Diamond n.p). Elderly discrimination is not something going to end if the general public is not educated about the effects of their activities on the elderly.

Another culture that will help appreciate the older generation and lead to a healthy generation despite the age is intergenerational network and linkage. There is so much distance on age segregation such that the working generation cannot understand what the retired older generations are going through. The intergenerational network and link are so huge so that the young generations create the stereotype about the older generation and spread it through without thinking about the effects on the elderly (United Nations n.p). The negative age stereotype also contributes to the intergenerational gap (Diamond n.p). For a healthy generation to be realized there is a need to create opportunities for the two generations to interact. When the two generations interact with each other there is a friendship that will be created. The friendship between the generations will enhance communication between the generations thereby enhancing the involvement of the aged people in matters of health programs.

Apart from Diamond who in his speech proposes a linkage of intergenerational networks and public education to enhance health and the aged, there is Isabel. Isabel in her speech agrees that the society and, most cultures have discriminated against the aged and do not allow them to participate in healthy initiatives and programs that will help them live a healthy life. To propose a solution to the aged generation and other generations, Isabel, in her speech introduces the perspective that nurturing a healthy generation begins from when an individual is born. In her speech where she shares her perspective on how to grow old passionately, she proposes the following solutions on how to age healthily.

She analyzes that society should not decide for us when we get old. Society decides that after retirement at the age of about 65 we get old (Allende n.p). However, Isabel gives pieces of advice that we start aging immediately we are born. According to her, we should start watching our health immediately we are conscious to do so. The idea of waiting to reach 65 then start watching about our health is a trap. At 65 the society will start providing Medicare. This provision of Medicare by society limits what the older generation can do about their health care. By watching over health when we age we are not limited to what we can do regarding our health status.

Another solution regards to attitude (Allende n.p). All generations should work towards dismissing the myth and belief that aging is a bad thing. Aging and feeling bad about ourselves is only an attitude. Changing the attitude about aging will create a link between the different generations. It also helps in ensuring that the aged are also included in the health programs without discrimination on their capabilities.

From the above analysis by Jared Diamond and Isabel Allende, we deduce the fact like mentioned in the thesis that stereotypes about the old or the aged affect the way the society involves the older people in matters of health. The talks also suggest ways in which these age stereotypes can be eradicated. A suggestion like the change of attitude, change of lifestyle, public education and inclusion of the elderly are some of the ways thought to effectively contribute to a healthy population especially among the elderly in the society.

Works Cited

Allende, Isabel. "How to Live Passionately-No Matter Your Age". Ted.Com," 2014, http://www.ted.com/talks/isabelle_allende_how_to_live_passionately_no_matter_your_age.

Diamond, Jared. "How Societies Can Grow Old Better". Ted.Com, 2014, http://www.ted.com/talks/jared_diamond_how_societies_can_grow_old_better.

United Nations. "Change the way you think about age! Centenarians answer the right questions." 2015, Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfziND3eE28. Accessed 28 Oct 2015.