S7E5 - Yikes! I’m Getting Old

Ageing is inevitable. Yet many of us have a sense of fear, anxiety, or ambivalence about growing old.

For some, it is the pressure of meeting certain ‘milestones’ before a certain age. For others, it is the avoidance of physically looking their age.

This is not surprising given that many of us younger folks apply a range of negative stereotypes to older adults.

These negative perceptions of ageing are steadily reinforced in society, especially through our media and entertainment showcasing youthful images and associating adulthood with physical, mental, and sexual inadequacies.

Then there are the anti-ageing products, the funny greeting cards that highlight ageing as a sort of loss, and the jokes about grey hair that warrant panic.

All of these messages often reinforce the idea that ageing is undesirable.

As with most social issues, the stigma of ageing also affects men and women differently.

For instance, research shows that women are perceived as “old” sooner than men and are more likely to have physical attributes associated with ageing applied to them.

The funny thing here is that these physical signs of ageing such as wrinkles or greying may alternately be viewed as signs of wisdom and status for men.

Overall, whether it is due to changing physical appearance, hitting success markers, or finding meaning in life, the ageing process can often be momentarily or regularly anxiety-ridden.

This is the part where you expect to see something uplifting.

But nope, we are still wrapping our heads around this too.

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