Why should Aging be part of Diversity Week at UCF? Richard D. Tucker, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Psychology UCF Liaison to LIFE at UCF October 22, 2013 One of President Hitt’s Five Goals for UCF Become more inclusive and diverse. Outline: • What do we mean by “diversity”? • What aspects of “diversity” are addressed by UCF and why do we celebrate Diversity Week? • Why is the “diversity of age” appropriate for inclusion during Diversity Week? • Concept of “double/triple jeopardy” • Who are the “old”? • Some basic premises about aging (from my perspective) • Ageism: Definition and implications. • Exploring Key Myths and Realities of Aging Office of Diversity Initiatives • Mission, Vision, and Goals • The mission of the Office of Diversity Initiatives is to assist the University of Central Florida in reaching its strategic goal to "Become More Inclusive and Diverse" by facilitating diversity processes, programs, and policies that promote social justice, enhance cultural competencies, and develop capacious leaders. Our students, colleagues, and constituents represent diverse peoples and perspectives across multiple generations. What Does “Diversity” Mean? • • • • • • Difference Unlikeness Variety Comprised of differing elements Variety Inclusion of different types of people What aspects of diversity are included in Diversity Week? Why? • • • • • • • Race Ethnicity Gender Sexual Preference Disability Homelessness Intergenerational relationships Why should “age” be included in our definition of “diversity”? • Older adults are the fastest growing segment of our population. • Florida has the highest concentration of older adults in the United States. – What is the percentage of resident Floridians over age 65? • Almost 18% • By 2030, it will be closer to 30% • Diversity increases with age Mean vs. Standard Deviation • UCF has a significant population of older adults who are on campus every Tuesday. • The process of aging is not well understood. • Many of the issues of aging are social issues. • Many stereotypes and prejudice leading to AGEISM. Concept of double (or triple) jeopardy • People of color can be subject to racism • Women can be subject to sexism • People with different sexual orientations can be subject to homophobia • Older adults can be subject to ageism • But what are the multiplicative effects of each? Ageism And the Diversity of Age Richard D. Tucker, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Psychology UCF Liaison to LIFE at UCF University of Central Florida UCF Diversity Week Outline: • Ageism: What is it? – Explicit vs. implicit ageism • Ageism: What are some examples? – The Ageism Survey • Ageism: Why does it occur? – Gerontophobia and cultural values • Ageism: What are the consequences? – Health, Memory, Self-Efficacy, Identity • Ageism: What can we do about it? Defining Ageism: • When did the term come into being? • 1969 – Dr. Robert Butler – “Ageism: Another form of bigotry” – The Gerontologist • Definition: “A process of systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people because they are old.” • Comparisons to racism and sexism. • Implications: • 1. Allows the younger generation to see older people as different from themselves and cease to identify with their elders as human beings. • 2. Such stereotyping and myths surrounding old age are explained in part by a lack of knowledge and insufficient contact with a wide variety of older people. • 3. Manifested in wide range of phenomena on both individual and institutional levels: – A. – B. – C. – D. Stereotypes and myths Outright disdain and dislike Subtle avoidance of contact Discriminatory practices in employment. • Implicit Ageism (Becca Levy) • “the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors toward elderly people that exist and operate without conscious awareness of control, with the assumption that it forms the basis for most interactions with older individuals” – “unconscious” beliefs, attitudes – Acculturation – We live in an ageist society – Prescriptive stereotypes – Old people should…….. – Positive Ageism What are YOUR images of aging??? • “When you think of old persons, what are the first 5 words or phrases that come to mind?”1 (from Levy) • How do we sort out the myths from the realities? The Ageism Survey In the public sector Ancient Geezer Biddy Gone senile Blubbering idiot Goose Codger Gopher Coot Greedy geezer Crone Hag Crotchety old man Little old lady Dirt ball Miserly old man Dirty old man Old fart Fogy Old goat Fossil One foot in the grave Gaffer Over the hill Geek Sweet old lady Ageist Terms Ageist Terms (continued) In the medical profession Bed blocker Crock Fossil Gerry Gogy GOMER (Get Out of My Emergency Room) GORK (God Only Really Knows) SPOS (Semi-human [or subhuman] Piece of Shit) Texting Codesfor Seniors ATD - At the Doctor’s BFF - Best Friends Funeral BTW - Bring the Wheelchair BYOT - Bring Your Own Teeth CBM - Covered by Medicare CUATSC - See You at the Senior Center DWI - Driving While Incontinent FWBB - Friend with Beta Blockers FWIW - Forgot Where I Was FYI - Found Your Insulin GGPBL - Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low GHA - Got Heartburn Again HGBM - Had Good Bowel Movement IMHO - Is My Hearing-Aid On? LMDO - Laughing My Dentures Out LOL - Living on Lipitor LWO - Lawrence Welk’s On OMMR - On My Massage Recliner OMSG - Oh My! Sorry, Gas ROFL - Rolling on the Floor LCGU - Laughing…Can’t get Up! TOT - Texting on Toilet TTYL - Talk to You Louder WAITT - Who Am I Talking To? WTFA - Wet the Furniture Again WTP - Where’re the Prunes WWNO - Walker Wheels Need Oil GGLKI (Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking in!) What fuels Ageism? • Gerontophobia – Fear of aging – Fear of the aged Perceived threats Intergenerational inequities Cultural Obsessions with “Anti-Aging” Intermittent selective reinforcement What are the consequences of Ageism? – Ageism, like all prejudices, influences the behavior of the victims: • Adopting negative perceptions of self. • Elders “collaborate” with the enemy, with stereotypes. • The “enemy within” Experiments on induced, implicit stereotype threat Effects on hand-writing, memory tasks and stress Health Consequences of Ageism Results from various studies by Becca Levy of Yale University: • People, age 72+, with positive age stereotypes were 44% more likely to recover from a severe disability than those with negative stereotypes (10 yr. study) • Participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who held negative age stereotypes had a 30% greater chance of experiencing memory decline 40 years later. • BLSA participants with positive age perceptions lived 7.5 years longer than those with negative perceptions. • Regarding the occurrence of heart attacks 30 yrs. later - 25% (with negative views) 13% (with positive views) How can you confront ageism? • 1. Education: Separate the myths from the realities of aging • 2. Consciousness raising (Betty Friedan’s two books) • 3. Separate effects of disease from the effects of aging (remember the Dr. Seuss ageist poem) • 4. Encourage more opportunities for interaction between generations • 5. Provide models of successful/productive aging. • 6. Future shift in demographics (Baby Boom) and “power” Questions?????????????????