Aging Challenges: Discrimination, Violence, Justice System

Aging Challenges

Peggy Celestin

Florida Atlantic University

Abstract

The reason for this research paper is to spread the knowledge of the growing discrimination on age. Ageism is a discrimination and or a prejudice on the basis on someone’s age. Ageism occurs in the work place. There is personal ageism, unintentional ageism and intentional ageism, Employers are by passing qualified applicants for open positions to employ younger candidates, who are far less qualified for the position. With employers having this process done it leaves the unemployed longer unemployed. This also adds another oppressed group in our society.

Keywords: Oppressed, Ageism, discrimination, Violence, Justice System

History

The expression “AGEISM” was developed in 1969

I can definitely see how treating someone of a certain age can be belittling. It is normal for us has a society to see someone older then us in need of help and we got out our way to help them, but to them it seems that they are incapable of doing anything for themselves. Same thing for some one that is of the younger age, we automatically assume that they can handle the “heavy load” that they are carrying but they are struggling. The outcome of ageism influence’s how we Americans can live the last third of our lives and can even affect our life span. It is said that ageism is believed to shorten or lives. One study reported that older adults who held negative views about old age faced life expectancies that were, on average, 7 and a half shorter than those peers (Levy et al, 2002). This is a concerning statistic when considering the nature of ageism. In another study, 70 percent of older adults reported that they had been insulted or mistreated based on their age. In a survey of eighty-four people, ages 60 and older, nearly 80 percent of participants reported experiencing ageism (Dittmann, 2003)

There is a debate going stating ageism will either ease or grow worse in the coming decades of booming senior

I do believe that ageism is being over looked. Injustice of older people or failure to accept that crimes against older people can have a disproportionate impact on their independence, development, and security. Well intentioned ageism’ means that alternative approaches are adopted that concentrate on welfare or the lack of appropriate support through the criminal justice process. An injustice of the victims of ageism give them low self-esteem. Ageism barriers between the elders and the younger generation and the lawyers lead to ineffective communication in the justice system, Victims of ageism also feel the lack of confidence that the legal system can deliver justice for older people. Ageism is also an easy target for sexual assault. They fear shame especially in relation to sexual