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OVERCOMING AGEISM THROUGH EDUCATION FOR
THE THIRD AGE
Georgi STANKOV
National University of the Third Age
, Sofia, Bulgaria
Keywords: ageism, senior empowerment, senior participation
Abstract:
The paper explores various aspects of ageism, and the importance of
confronting its manifestations in modern society. Education for seniors is
identified as an essential benefit for all ages and as a fundamental tool for
overcoming ageism. From this perspective, educational programs for the
older generations can help them find a way to use their qualities, talents,
and skills, and to find meaningful social roles. The author's view is that
education can raise elderly citizens' awareness of their needs and rights,
and might encourage their active participation in policy-making in all
matters affecting them.
What Zuck says?
In his 2007 speech at the Y Combinator Startup School event at Stanford,
the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, said that “Young people are
just smarter.”
1
He addressed the IT startups, stating youngsters’ ability to
contribute for their success, and recommending to entrepreneurs to hire
them instead of older persons. What Zuckerberg said back in 2007, is an
example of ageism.
1
Coker, Mark (2007). “Startup advice for entrepreneurs from Y
Combinator”, in Venture Beat, March 27, 2007, available online at:
https://venturebeat.com/2007/03/26/start-up-advice-for-
entrepreneurs-from-y-combinator-startup-school.
33
Eventually, Zuckerberg’s words proved to be a modern version of “Simon
says.” There is a growing age-related trend in staff selection in the Silicon
valley and elsewhere. Most observers of this business sector claim that this
advice is followed by the companies. The media describe the situation with
expressions like: “no old people allowed”
2
, “the brutal ageism of Tech”
3
,
“the Silicon valley’s obsession with youth.”
4
Data evidence about the age
structure of the hi-tech sector proves this trend is not an illusion. The
annual survey for 2015, made by the specialized site Stack Overflow in the
IT sector, shows a significant lack of balance in the age structure of
programmers.
5
From 25 831 respondents, people of age between 40 and 50
are 7.6 percent of the cohort, and people over 50 are just 2.4 percent. Any
possible explanations of this situation with the features of the environment
and the business sector must be considered, as well the fact that Google
settled the case Reid v. Google Inc. out of the court with conditions, that
are not subject to disclosure. Brian Reid sued the company for age
discrimination.
6
2
Medina, Daniel (2013). “Silicon Valley: No old people allowed?”,
in Mic, August 19, 2013, available online at:
https://mic.com/articles/60179/silicon-valley-no-old-people-allowed.
3
Scheiber, Noam (2014). “The brutal ageism of Tech”, in New
Republic, March 24, 2014, available online at:
https://newrepublic.com/article/117088/silicons-valleys-brutal-
ageism.
4
Eadicicco, Lisa (2015). “Silicon Valley’s obsession with youth,
summed up in one chart”, in Business Insider, April 13, 2015,
available online at: http://www.businessinsider.com/silicon-valley-
age-programmer-2015-4.
5
Stack Overflow, 2015 Developer Survey, available online at:
http://stackoverflow.com/insights/survey/2015#profile-age.
6
California Supreme Court, decision on the case Reid v. Google
Inc., 2010, decided on August 5th, 2016, available online at:
34
What is Ageism?
The relationship between age and discrimination has been the subject of
many social discussions and scientific studies. This relationship is not only
an academic interest, but it also has many practical daily life implications.
The term ageism was created by Robert N. Butler to describe the
evaluative judgments toward an individual or a group only due to their
advanced age.
7
Butler identified ageism as one of the manifestations of
bigotry, such as racism, sexism, and social class discrimination.
The vast majority of researchers (for instance, Zanna, Rempel, Haddock,
Herzog, Jain,)
8
9
10
11
agree that the complexity of phenomenon ageism
http://www.olender.pro/~fatuous/sites/default/files/Reid-v-
google.pdf.
7
Robert N. Butler, MD (1969); Age-Ism: Another Form of Bigotry.
Gerontologist 1969; 9 (4_Part_1): 243-246. doi:
10.1093/geront/9.4_Part_1.243.
8
Zanna, M.P. and Rempel, J.K. (1988) Attitudes: A New Look at an
Old Concept. In: Bar-Tal, D. and Kruglanski, A.W., Eds., The Social
Psychology of Knowledge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
UK, 315-334.
9
Geoffrey Haddock and Mark P. Zanna (1993) ,"Predicting
Prejudicial Attitudes: the Importance of Affect, Cognition, and the
Feeling-Belief Dimension", in NA - Advances in Consumer Research
Volume 20, eds. Leigh McAlister and Michael L. Rothschild, Provo,
UT : Association for Consumer Research, pp. 315-318, available
online at: http://acrwebsite.org/volumes/7463/volumes/v20/NA-20.
10
Herzog, S. (2017) Experimental Analysis of Attitudes: The
Factorial-Survey Approach. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 5, 126-
156. doi: 10.4236/jss.2017.51011, available online at:
http://file.scirp.org/pdf/JSS_2017011615215956.pdf.
11
Jain, Vishal (2014), 3D model of attitude. International Journal of
Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences, March
35
can be best presented through the tripartite model, which proposes to study
ageism as a constellation of three components:
• an affective component (feelings toward older individuals),
• a cognitive component (beliefs or stereotypes about older people),
• a behavioral component (behavior or behavioral intentions toward
older people).
12
Based on this, we can suggest that ageism is a set of attitudes, thoughts,
and feelings towards elderly people, which result in practical behavioral
interventions, violating their human and social rights.
Manifestations of ageism
While ageism has existed for centuries, Blau suggests that the major social
changes in the industrial era contributed to the development of ageist
societies. While in the agricultural societies seniors were perceived as an
asset to the family and took part in the daily work, in the transmission of
traditional knowledge and experience, in the intergenerational
communication, and in the gender-role modelling of children, nowadays, in
times of urbanization and industrialization, they are no longer included in
all these roles. This completely changed the life and status of the elderly
persons.
13
It might seems to be a paradox that young people have negative stereotypes
toward a group to which they will eventually belong.
14
But this is a matter
2014; available online at:
http://garph.co.uk/IJARMSS/Mar2014/1.pdf.
12
Kite, Mary E. and Lisa Smith Wagner (2002). Attitudes toward
Older Adults, in Ageism. Stereotyping and Prejudice against Older
Persons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, p.132.
13
Blau, Zena Smith (1973). Old Age in a Changing Society, New
Viewpoints, p.6.
14
Nelson, Todd (2002). In: Ageism. Stereotyping and Prejudice
against Older Persons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, p.ix.
36
of fact, and it happens in several dimensions. Despite the fact that ageism
is declared illegal, regulations does not cease the ageist behaviour.
➔
Problems with employment. There are examples, that adult workers
are not welcomed in certain professions, even if they have the
necessary qualifications.
➔
Mistreatment on the workplace. Especially in teams with a
majority of young people, there is a growing assumption, that older
people do not "fit into the culture" of the companies, which leads
to insults and mockeries.
➔
Lack of intergenerational dialog. The absence of communication
and mutual understanding between people, belonging to different
generations, increases the sense for “out of place and time” for the
old people.
➔
Social isolation. Usually the elderly have limited physical space,
and often their environment is not age-friendly, which make them
withdraw from social life.
➔
Declined social participation. In old age are observed shrinking of
social activities, reduced social networks, and decreased social
capital. Generally, older persons' opinions are not taken in account.
➔
Lack of educational programs for the elderly. Most of the elderly
people, even in the developed countries, do not have access to
specially designed educational programs.
➔
Abuse and neglect of older people. In social care institutions
seniors might be mistreated and harassed.
We could assume that in some cases, it is not a conscious ageism, but
rather a lack of understanding for the specific needs of elderly, and the
importance their constitutional rights to be executed in a way, which is
relevant to their needs and abilities.
What education can do?
Senior education might provide numerous benefits not only for the third
age, but for the society as a whole. According to developmental
37
psychologist Erik Erikson, in old age man questions his life purpose, and
might regret failure to live his life as he wished. There is a risk of despair
and a loss of sense of meaning, therefore it is crucial for elderly people’s
well-being to achieve, affirm, and confirm their ego integrity.
15
Universities of the third age can provide the space and tools for the
transition of people from active adulthood to active ageing, and to support
them in the development of new roles for the later life.
The ultimate goal of the UTAs, as regards to ageism, should be to
empower elderly and to stimulate senior participation on various levels and
dimensions. In this perspective, education for the third age has the capacity
to achieve the following goals:
● To raise awareness of the Third age about their rights and needs.
Involvement in educational activities already is a proactive behaviour.
Seniors at most UTAs are able to directly contribute to the forming of their
educational programme, lectures, and activities. The British model of
UTAs even broadens this process, by creating possibility for elderly to
teach each others and to reverse their roles of learners and educators. But
there is more that could be done at a policy level. Roger Clough еt al, in
their fundamental report “The support older people want and the services
they need” starts from the position that elderly care begins with taking into
consideration their expressed needs.
16
A team of University of Manitoba's
Center of Aging had reviewed the literature on older adults’ social
participation, and summarized that it provides them with a wide range of
health benefits, including: enhanced quality of life, longer survival,
15
Erikson, Erik H. (1950). Childhood and Society, 1987 edition by
Paladin Grafton Books, pp. 241-242.
16
Clough, Roger; Jill Manthorpe; Bert Green; David Fox; Gwyn
Raymond; Pam Wilson; Vicki Raymond; Keith Sumner; Les Bright;
Jinny Hay (2007). The support older people want and the services
they need, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available online at:
https://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/default/files/jrf/migrated/files/1954-
older-people-services.pdf.
38
lower morbidity, better self-rated health, decreased risk of disability and
functional and mobility decline, decreased likelihood of depression,
decreased likelihood of generalized anxiety disorders, decreased risk of
cognitive decline, and decreased risk of dementia.
17
● To create social networks, to increase social capital, and to build
friendships.
Social interaction and social bonds are related to the self-rated physical
health. Cornwell and Waite inform that both social disconnectedness and
self-perceived isolation among older adult are independently associated
with lower levels of their self-evaluated physical health.
18
Boulton-Lewis
underlines importance of community - as a source for enjoyment and
recreation, as well as a way for older people to adapt to changes within
their environment in domains such as technology, lifestyle, finances and
health.
19
● To provide opportunity for Lifelong learning, new skills and
knowledge.
Many people over 50 desire to gain new work skills, knowledge and
opportunities to develop and express their talents. Research by Escuder-
Molon et al discovered a relationship between the participation in Lifelong
learning activities and the subjective perception of seniors’ Quality of
17
Novek, Sheila; Verena Menec; Tanya Tran; Sheri Bell (2013)
Exploring the Impacts of Senior Centres on Older Adults. Winnipeg,
MB: Centre on Aging, May 2013.
18
Cornwell, Erin Y., Linda J. Waite (2009). Social
Disconnectedness, Perceived Isolation, and Health among Older
Adults. J Health Soc Behav. 2009 Mar; 50(1): 31–48. Manuscript is
available online at:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2756979/pdf/nihms-
133647.pdf.
19
Boulton-Lewis, Gillian M.(2012).Issues in Learning and
Education for the Ageing. In: Active Ageing, Active Learning,
Springer, p.22.
39
Life.
20
Avramov and Maskova’s data about willingness to work among
elderly workers and soon retired people about their preferences for full-
time job, part-time job and unpaid voluntary job shows that this age group
is not homogeneous and different subgroups have different priorities.
21
UTAs can support all these groups: the people who wish to be active on the
labour market by providing them with new qualifications, the people who
choose a part-time engagement, and the people want to spend their spare
time with no job and inclusion in new experiences and activities.
● To develop a positive self-perception among senior citizens.
Positive self-perception, related to ageing, can increase significantly
seniors’ health and life. A study by Levy and her colleagues from 2002
concluded, that among 600 individuals, tested 23 years earlier, those with
positive self-perceptions of aging lived average 7.5 years longer than
people with less positive self-perceptions of aging.
22
Two recent studies
discovered the relationship between self-perception and body condition.
The first one found that negative attitudes regarding aging affect how
minds and bodies function at the cellular level, and lead to physical and
cognitive decline in older adults.
23
The second research found that elderly
20
Escuder-Mollon,Pilar; Roger Esteller-Curto; Luis Ochoa;
Massimo Bardus (2014). Impact on Senior Learners’ Quality of Life
through Lifelong Learning, Procedia - Social and Behavioral
Sciences 131 (2014) pp.510 – 516, available online at:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187704281403067
5.
21
Avramov, Dragana and Miroslava Maskova (2003). Active ageing
in Europe Volume 1, Council of Europe Publishing, p.73.
22
Levy, Becca R., Martin D. Slade, Suzanne R. Kunkel, Stanislav V.
Kasl (2002). Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of
Aging. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2002, Vol. 83,
No. 2, 261–270.
23
Pietrzak, R. H.; Zhu, Y.; Slade, M. D.; Qi, Q.; Krystal, J. H.;
Southwick, S. M., and Levy, B. R. (2016), Association Between
Negative Age Stereotypes and Accelerated Cellular Aging: Evidence
40
people who experience negative age-stereotypes, have higher cortisol
levels, compared to people with positive stereotypes about ageing.
24
● To strengthen the intergenerational dialog.
Since 2016, National university of the third age in Bulgaria develops a
pilot initiative, aimed to improve the dialog between generations. NUTA
collaborates with students from the Department of Public administration,
who are asked to spend more time with their grandparents and to learn
more about their lives.
● To support purposeful ageing.
In his research of the Blue zones, places around the world, where lifestyles
lead to extended life expectancy, Dan Buettner states that the sense of
purpose (the “why I wake up in the morning” thing), is positively
correlated to centenarians’ longevity.
25
Boyle et al, state that a strong
purpose in life can improve the pathologic changes in cognition at
advanced age of patients with Alzheimer disease.
26
from Two Cohorts of Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc, 64: e228–
e230. doi:10.1111/jgs.14452.
24
Levy, Becca R.; Moffat, Scott; Resnick, Susan M.; Slade, Martin
D.; Ferrucci, Luigi (2016), Positive Age Self-Stereotypes Predict
Lower Cortisol across 30 Years. GeroPsych: The Journal of
Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, Vol 29(3), 2016, 141-
146.
25
Buettner, Dan (2008). The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer
From the People Who've Lived the Longest, National Geographic
Society.
26
Boyle, Patricia; Aron S. Buchman; Robert S. Wilson; Lei Yu;
Julie A. Schneider; David A. Bennett (2012). Effect of Purpose in
Life on the Relation Between Alzheimer Disease Pathologic
Changes on Cognitive Function in Advanced Age, Arch Gen
Psychiatry, 2012;69(5):499-506.
41
Furthermore, UTAs should not stay limited to the position of education
providers. UTAs could operate as think-tanks, developing policies
concerning seniors’ areas of interest, such as social services and care,
urban design and age-friendly public spaces, political participation, culture,
silver economy, technology, and culture.
Conclusion
Two very different perceptions of ageing have shaped our society. The first
one was expressed in popular phrases, like “I hope I die before I get old”
27
,
and “Live Fast Die Young”
28
from numerous books and movies. The
second one was expressed by Rainer Maria Rilke:
You have not grown old, and it is not too late
to dive into your increasing depths,
where life calmly gives out its own secret.
29
The former presents a more pessimistic point of view, and the latter is more
optimistic. Opposing to ageism, fighting ageist prejudices, and creating
equal opportunities is not a matter of slogans, statements, legal acts, and
declarations. It is about inspiring people to pursue their happiness. The
mission of UTAs as providers of education for seniors, is to implement the
words, often accredited to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: “If you want to build
27
Pete Townshend (1965). My Generation; In: My Generation,
album by The Who, released in 1965.
28
Motley, Willard (1947). Knock on Any Door; paraphrase of the
often repeated quotation "Live fast, die young, and have a good-
looking corpse". The phrase is used as a title for the 1958 movie
“Live Fast, Die Young”.
29
Rilke, Rainer Maria (1905). You see, I want a lot, in: Selected
poems (1981 edition), pubished by Harper Perennial, translated by
Robert Bly
42
a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give
orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.”
30
Curriculum vitae of the author:
Georgi Stankov is a developmental and social psychologist, psychodrama
therapist, and PhD student in Public administration at Sofia University "St.
Kliment Ohridski", Bulgaria. Since 2014 he is a part-time lecturer at Sofia
university. His interests and areas of research and practice cover topics
such as: non-formal education, citizen participation, public advocacy,
community organizing, policy networks. He is the Vice-President of the
National University of the Third Age in Bulgaria, and author of the first
Bulgarian academic publication on the UTA movement.
Contacts:
Institution: National University of the Third Age
Address: Bulgaria, 1407 Sofia, str. "Trepetlika" 5, floor 1
Phone: +359 886824918
E- mail: dunyata@gmail.com
30
This famous passage is accredited to Saint-Exupéry, but is actually
a paraphrase, derived from his book “Citadelle” (1948). More
information is available online at
http://quoteinvestigator.com/2015/08/25/sea.
