Discussion Post: Perspectives of Aging and Ageism
After completing this week's reading, address the following:
1) Watch the AARP YouTube video Millennials Show Us What ‘Old' Looks Like. What did the video exhibit in regards to society's attitudes on aging? What did we learn from the video about aging? When reading Chapter 4, what surprised you in regards to biological aging?
2) Watch the AHRC YouTube video Power of Oldness. From the video and your reading so far, present and explain a major benefit that older people bring to society, including families, workplaces and communities.
3) Aging Simulation Exercise - After reading about the physical impairments related to age in Chapter 4 of the textbook, visit "Sociology of Aging: Age Related Impairments: A Simulation Exercise" (available in the online classroom) and select at least two of the impairments that are listed in the exercise. After selecting the impairments that you will be simulating, use the household items that are listed and proceed with carrying out your normal tasks around your home. Then, describe which impairments you simulated and what you experienced. Answer the following questions (this part of the discussion should be a minimum of 300 words):
a. What was it like to complete your tasks with the selected impairments?
b. What were the difficulties that you encountered while completing your tasks? Were any of those difficulties unexpected?
c. After having reviewed Chapter 4, which of the major biological theories on aging do you think best explains the impairments that you simulated? Be sure to support your answer.
4) In Chapter 5, you read about "self-concept." Although self-concept is something that is established early in life, it changes as one grows older through life experiences. A great example of strong self-concept would be the self-esteem an athlete gains by excelling at their sport and being well known for their advanced abilities. However, as you experienced in the experiment, and athlete can experience physical aging and injury that can often force them to stop performing their sporting activity and this can lead to a loss of self-esteem and self-concept. What activity in later life do athletes often engage in that can help them regain a positive self-concept? What is it about this later life activity that so positively impacts self-esteem?
The response must include a reference list. One-inch margins, double-space, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font and APA style of writing and citations.