ageisum Essay Example

ageisum Essay Modern society views aging as a form of sickness and the elderly as persons who are closer to dying and death. This is what is often portrayed in our mass and social media. When considering issues of aging sociologists have found that more positive characteristics are often said for persons under sixty five years than for over sixty five years. For instance , growth and development, beauty, good health, happiness are more likely to be listed as characteristics of being under sixty five years, whereas decline health, loneliness undesired physical appearance are likely to be listed for ersons over sixty five years. According to the Centre of Confidence and well being (n. d) reports stereotypes of the elderly as being needy, unhappy, senile, unable to learn new things and less useful than their younger counterparts. The author overview of this paper in conclusion we shall first address the factors that may be responsible for the modern day perception of the elderly, theoretical perspectives on aging, effects of ageism and the changes that society can make to eliminate the negative perceptions of aging. The elders in our society was not always iewed negatively according to gerontologist David Hackett Fisher who noted that literature from the seventeenth and eighteenth century colonial American stressed deference and respect for the elderly. He maintains that the elderly were held in veneration. In European culture the image of the elderly was dominated for a long time by the ambivalent traditions. The elderly was both seen as a wise and dignified as well as the old fool. We will write a custom essay sample on ageisum specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on ageisum specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on ageisum specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Literature in pre-industrial France according to Jean-Pierre Gutton, marked by this twofold traditions. Seventeenth-century poetry on the other hand held a more positive view of the aged. In general the image of the elderly in pre-industrial France was more negative than positive. This changed after 1750 under the influence of Romanticism when the image of the wise old men and women acquired additional significance. The elderly came to symbolize virtue and reason. Different cultures treat the elderly in different ways. Cox (1998) notes research showing an inverse relationship between the degree of modernization and the status accorded old persons (Cox, 1998, 1), which means that in the more industrialized nations, the older person has a lower status than is the case in less industrialized nations. This is something we can see all around us as our own culture celebrates youth to the exclusion of the old and has been charged with throwing away older people. Despite industrialization of the Asian society according to Erdman Falmores we witness evidence of Falmores observation that Japan, whose level of industrialization matches Americans own, nevertheless maintains a strong tradition of filial piety and successful integration of elderly citizens into community life. There appears to be a great variation as to the treatment that older adults receive, ranging from extreme reverence and respect to bandonment and deprivation, McTavish (1971) reviewed the methodology and findings of a broad range of studies dealing with perceptions of old age. He states, Most investigators report findings which support the view that attitudes toward the modernization to the point of generally negative view in industrialized Western nations (p. 91). In other words, the more civilized the society is, the more likely they are to be ageist and maintain negative attitudes about the aged. For instance men in the Middle East view old age as lifes summit (Slater, 1964). Older men are viewed as having attained high status and prestige. In fact, according to Slater, the word sheik originally meant old man. Womens status and power does increase in many cultures following menopause. Okada (1962, cited in Gutmann, 1985) states that the old widow has great power in the Japanese family. Women in many small scale traditional societies also enjoy an increase in status (Brown, 1985). Post-menopausal women in these societies usually experience greater sexual freedom, the right to participate in ritual, the right to participate in the political realm of the society, and a decrease in the amount of work required in the home. With regard to work, the older oman is expected to be leisured. The cross-cultural differences in attitudes towards the aged may in part be due to different societal perspectives. In most western cultures the elderly today are hardly regarded with religious awe or reverence. They have become virtual outcasts of society, many living on the fringe, often in retirement communities or in nursing homes. William Withers states that modern cultures have coped with the death of the aged, minimizing its disruptiveness, by disengaging the elderly from the vital functions of society (518). In most modern society, emphasis and value are placed on youth, with advertising eared toward and glamorizing the young. In the entertainment industry which has a big influence on culture aging is seen as a shameful thing when in reality its a natural process. Aging gracefully is a thing of the past when there is pressure to stay young with technological advances by performing invasive cosmetic surgeries to fight the aging process and different types of ageing products. Aging in todays society is seen more as a disease than a natural process. The elderly are victims of mistaken beliefs and irrational attitudes promulgated by society, largely through the various mass media. Considering this phenomena which emerged during the twentieth century and their relationship to the changes in economics and social policy during that time in order to understand the way in which society conceptualizes and organize, sometimes through social policy, an age grouping to meet its perceived values, ideas or needs. The pensioner a term which did not exist in the earlier part of the last century but one which is now applied collectively to all those who are reaching retirement age, are forced to retire from employment in order to create jobs for younger members of society. For many elders this is a sentence to live on a vastly reduced income, whereas for others it is a time of choice and opportunity to spend more time with friends and family. However this is fluid and dependent on the demographics and economy of the society, the retirement age in the I-JK is set to rise to sixty-six years in 2024, sixty-seven years in 2034, sixty-eight years in 2044 for both sexes (Department of Work and Pensions, 2006). The position of the aged in modern society is clearly a reflection of the process of disengagement, referred to by Morgan Kunkel (1998) in terms of retirement. Disengagement should be a social process that moves older people into a new arrangement, but still into full participation within the social world (Morgan Kunkel, 1998, 6). Disengagement this willingly and with the approval of successive generations who benefit via the enhanced employment opportunities which then become available. By contrast, activity theorists argues that the only way to resist disengagement was to maintain a middle age lifestyle (Fennell Phillipson and Evers, 1989). Although critics have argued that, many older people do withdraw from the public sphere, there is little vidence to suggest that they do so voluntarily; rather, aging practices such as low retirement income and dependency creating services restrict most of them their capacity to remain active citizens. A political economy perspective on aging also points to increasing polarity of the aging experience, ranging from social exclusion of those older people living in areas of extreme economic deprivation (Schaef et al. 2002 ) to those young at heart, fit and wealthy older people who are the new niche makers of the tourism and travel industry (Warnes et el. , 1999; Ylanne-McEwen, 1999). American society has been described as maintaining a stereotypic and often negative perception of older adults (Busse, 1968). This negative and/or stereotypic perception of aging and aged individuals is readily apparent in such areas as language, media, and humor. For example, such commonly used phrases as over the hill and dont be an old fuddy-duddy denote old age as a period of impotency and incompetency (Nuessel, 1982). The term used to describe this stereotypic and often negative bias against older adults is ageism (Butler, 1969). Ageism can be defined as any attitude, action, or institutional structure which ubordinates a person or group because of age or any assignment of roles in society purely on the basis of age (Traxler, 1980, p. 4). As an ism, ageism reflects a prejudice in society against older adults. According to Bytheway (1995), ageism exists throughout the life course. Ageism consists ofa negative bias or stereotypic attitude toward aging and the aged. It is maintained in the form of primarily negative stereotypes and myths concerning the older adult. Traxler (1980) outlines four factors that have contributed to this negative image of aging. The factor that is postulated to ontribute to ageism is the fear of death in Western society. Western civilization conceptualizes death as outside of the human life cycle (Butler Lewis, 1977). As such, death is experienced and viewed as an affront to the self. Death is not seen as natural and inevitable part of the life course therefore, death is feared. As death is feared, old age is feared; death and old age are viewed as synonymous in American society (Kastenbaum, 1979). Kastenbaum (1973) hypothesizes that ageism attitudes and stereotypes serve to insulate the young and middle-aged from the ambivalence they feel towards the elderly. This ambivalence results from the fact that the older adult is viewed as representing aging and death. Butler (1969) states: Ageism reflects a deep seated uneasiness on the part of the young and middle-aged a personal revulsion to and distaste for growing old, disease, disability; and a fear of powerlessness, uselessness, and death ((p. 43). This represents the most commonly argued basis for ageism. Furthermore according to Traxler (1980) to contribute to ageism is the emphasis on the youth culture in American society. For example, the media, ranging from television to novels, place an emphasis on youth, hysical beauty, and sexuality. Older adults are primarily ignored or portrayed negatively (Martel, 1968; Northcott, 1975). The emphasis on youth not only affects themselves. Persons who are dependent on physical appearance and youth for their identity are likely to experience loss of self-esteem with age (Block, Davidson, Grumbs, 1981). The emphasis in American culture productivity contributes to ageism in American culture (Traxler, 1980). It should be noted that productivity is narrowly defined in terms of economic potential. Both ends of the life cycle are iewed as unproductive, children and the aged. The middle-aged are perceived as carrying the burdens imposed by both groups (Butler, 1969). Children, however, are viewed as having future economic potential. In a way, they are seen as an economic investment. Economically, older adults are perceived as a financial liability. This is not to say that older adults are unproductive. However, upon retirement, the older adult is no longer viewed as economically productive in American society and thus devalued. As a result of living in an ageist society, many older people internalize geist views, because ageist towards their peers, and try to distance themselves from other old people. Furthermore, poorly controlled gerontological studies have reinforced the negative image of the older adult. However, there appears to be a large societal influence on ageist attitudes. Therefore, until these societal influences are addressed, ageism cannot be obliterated. For example, if the fear of death and therefore aging is not somehow addressed societally, then younger individuals will continue to attempt to make the older population somehow different from themselves. This differentiation of themselves from older adults, thus serves to protect them from the reality of death. In working with older people we must recognize that our starting point is one of disadvantage and discrimination rather than equality. According to Hughes(1997), anti ageist practice embodies personhood ascribes to all people of all ages the autheriticity and worth of being alive and of having lived; citizenship relationship between the individual and society and how the relationship is defined; emphasizes rights of individual reciprocal responsibilities of individual and society; validates membership of society. Age is to be celebrated as an achievement and as a period to be valued in its own right. As a society we can make the necessary changes to eliminate the negative perceptions of aging, address the factors that may be responsible for the modern day perception of the elderly. Bibliography Janus Head/Alan Pope/Elderly in Modern Society. (n. d. ). Janus Head: Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies inLiterature, Continental Philosophy, Phenomenological Psychology, andthe Arts. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://www. ]anushead. org/ JHSpg99/pope. cfm The Elderly Disengagement Activity Theories. n. d. ). LotsOfEssays. om Over 32,000 essays, term papers and book reports available for instant access!!. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://www. lotsofessays. com/ viewpaper Ageism. (n. d. ). Home I Webster University. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from Wellbeing I Violence Reduction Unit. (n. d. ). Violence Reduction Unit I Violence is preventable, not inevitable. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http:// www. actiononviolence. com/content/centre-confidence-and-wellbeing Feminist Anth ropology: A Reader. (n. d. ). Scribd. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http:// www. scribd. m/doc/144477286/Feminist-Anthropology-A-Reader BBC News Online 2000:Call for enquiry into NSH ageism , 4 August; http:// news. Bbc. co. uk/l/hi/ health/635688. stm. Bytheway, B. 1995: Ageism. Buckinghham: Open University Press. Bytheway, B. , and Johnson,J. 1990: on definding ageism. Critical Social Policy, 27, 27-9. Managing Diversity Inequality in Health Care, 1st Edition I Baxter, C I ISBN 9780702025204. (n. d. ). Elsevier Store I Books, Journals, E-books, Databases, etc. I Welcome. Retrieved August 4, 2013, from http://store. elsevier. com/Managing- Diversity-and-Inequality-in-Health-Care/isbn-9780702025204/

HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE Essays

HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE Essays HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE Essay HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS YOUNG PEOPLE Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: How Technology Impacts Young People The rapid advancement in technology has helped in shaping the future of the young generation. For decades, machines have been used, but with the recent advancement, they deserve a considerable enhancement to enable better learning system. For instance, the use of computers such Internet applications that allow the youths to capitalize their greatest learning resource has been on the increase. Technology advancement has contributed to effective communication and enhanced better socialization among the youths. However, digital technology has contributed to negative and positive effects among the young generation in the modern society. The youths have been exposed to digital technology to an extent that the society has started experiencing the impact of this technology. Therefore, if the societies make the right decisions now, they can substantially make better changes in the ways technology can be used today and for future generations without affecting young people. Since technology is integrated into the young people’s lives, it is vital to discuss how technology affects them positively and negatively. Technology advancement has positively affected the lives of young people in diverse ways. First, with the advancement in technology, lives of young people have become much easier because technology is helping them to accomplish what was formerly not achievable. For instance, the use of machine devices such as telephones, televisions, radios as well as the internet, have made lives of the younger generation easier. This is because they can use technologies such as computer games in advancing their skills in sports. Moreover, it creates awareness of the changes occurring across the globe. For instance, the young generation can learn about healthcare benefits thus becoming aware of the way they can maintain their body healthy. This is done through mass media such as televisions and radios thus raising awareness among the young generations. Secondly, technology in communication benefits the young people in many ways. Through the use of phones and Internet applications, the youths are able to make communication efficiently and effectively. This is because the use of Internet especially the use of emails helps in delivering information faster and effectively due to high speed and clarity. Cases of fraud are controlled and its proximity makes communication process reliable. Moreover, it makes socialization easier because many youths are connected on Face Book, Gmail and Yahoo chat lists thus they meet with many friends across the globe. Youths utilize the internet in communicating with friends and relatives freely and participate in significant social activities. Lastly, technology has helped in the education sector in many ways. First, many educational institutions both public as well as private ones incorporate computer as part of the educational process. This is because computers aid in research processes for various courses under study. For instance, in the information technology course, computer engineers or programmers work hard in order to integrate and manipulate methods as well as systematize the programs. They do so in order to compete with others in a computerized world. In fact, the Internet as part of technology has aided in the research process. This is the central purpose of using technology in education. This is because students are nowadays able to find online materials such as books, scholarly journals and on line dictionaries thus making the research work easier (Veletsianos 39). Another way it has helped in education is through sharing knowledge through on line discussions. Students share their learning ideas on a certain topic of discussion through active participation in online discussions. Moreover, many students are able to attain degrees for various courses through distance education programs and even they can use Internet for job searching. The internet is remarkably educational because skilled educators create a rich learning environment whereby students are being introduced to new ideas. Technology has helped students to develop new skills as well as expanded their knowledge in wider subjects. This is because the informed technology engages students to participate and learn new experiences. This is through creating a community of students a cross the environmental boundaries. In addition, technology has helped in simplifying the life of youths in the education sector. This is because it has loads of valuable effects to the young generation in the society (Hutchby 29). This is because technology has played a vital role in improving the student’s learning skills. The quality of public education especially mass media has helped to create awareness among the youths. In fact, many institutions advertise the best learning institutions for obtaining degrees or masters thus enabling students to identify the best learning environment suitable for advancing their studies. Through utilization of websites, students in poor communities can get access to better libraries and best instructors around the world. This is crucial because students will develop basic academic skills thus improving students and teachers’ access to educational information. On the other hand, technology advancement has negatively affected the lives of young people in various ways. First, it has induced attention deficit. The attention deficit prevalence on the youths has increased dramatically. According to the research study carried out on the negative impact of technology, it was found that there are high increased cases whereby youths are diagnosed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Bougie 65). This problem is associated with inattentiveness, impulsivity, or both. It is a most common disorder that affects children. Hutchby (78) argues that ADHD is a development disorder caused by too much time spent on technologies especially watching video games. The rapid pace appears to be a vital element linked with exposure of video games and attention deficits. Secondly, digital divides are yet another disadvantage of technology. Sefton-Green (102) points out that digital technology has led to contradictions in the technology age for young people. It has led to contradictions through communication process. He further clarifies that through misinterpretations of information, there have been cases of gender divides among the youths. The research reveals that more than a half of young men and nine percent of young women would admit about their interests towards technical issues (Valdez 2011). Similarly, technological literacy differences tend to create gender gaps. This is because of the cost cutting edge of technology, which creates generation gaps between the highly prosperous and the less prosperous regions. Thirdly, the massive advancement in technology has complicated the lives of the young generation. This is because those who are unable to get the latest gadgets are excluded from other peers’ social activities. This is what is termed as consumerism and technological dependence (Valdez 2011). The young generations grow up in a world where technical devices are rampart. Thus, gadgets such as mobile phones and hand held computers have complicated their lives. It has structured their lives in a manner that even their way of making of appointments, language as well as aesthetic preferences are very complicated (Valdez 2011). Lastly, technology has hut education in varied ways. First, the innovative technology has changed educational values and shared behaviors of young people. The major concern in this case is that many students spend much of their time watching pornography and playing video games instead of studying. Moreover, instead of being in class, some of them visit cyber cafes to chat with their friends and to play video games. Others pretend that they are doing research work in the computer room but instead they are listening and downloading music from music websites and blogs. This has been noticed by parents, educators and the government, but they have still neglected to help students. Thus, because of this technology, the performances of students in many schools have declined (Veletsianos 93). In addition, it has affected the young people’s writing habits. The writing styles of abbreviating names especially when youths are writing short messages have significantly contributed to poor language development. The youths consider this style of writing as the formal and faster ways of writing in the modern generation. This has led to poor performance in schools especially in languages subjects because of grammatical errors. This is because they are used with this habit of communication through short messages. Thus, they have ended up implementing that style in schoolwork. In fact, many youths spend much of their time interacting via text messages. They use acronyms and abbreviations in writing. These methods have become ingrained in the minds of the youths. Hence, it has become the common as well as formal style of writing in learning institutions. In conclusion, since technology is integrated into the young people’s lives, it is vital to discuss how technology affects them positively and negatively. First, it has helped youths to accomplish what was formerly not achievable. They are able to make communication efficiently and effectively. Additionally, in education, it has helped in research and students share their learning ideas through active participation in online discussions. On the other hand, it has negatively affected the youths. This is because it has induced attention deficit and created digital divides as well as complicated the life of youths. It has hurt education because of changed educational values and shared behaviors of young people. This is because students spend much of their time in watching pornographies. Moreover, it has changed their writing styles. This is because students have developed vague acronyms and abbreviations thus resulting to poor performance in learning institutions. l>

People of Hindu the Culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

People of Hindu the Culture - Assignment Example This paper illustrates that the Hindu culture is unique and nurses need to recognize that Indians have different perceptions towards health and wellbeing. Therefore, nurses need to understand the critical aspects that define the Hindu culture. For example, the Hindu culture exhibits stringent practices of nutrition that healthcare providers should take note of, as this paper will highlight. Food is a critical part of life in Hinduism. The people associate food with their God. They recognize that food is responsible for nurturing the different aspects of the human being. Hindus do not take food for granted, but rather recognize it as a gift from their God Brahman. For this reason, the people respect food and say a number of prayers before partaking food. There are strict rules governing the preparation of food as well as the ingredients of the Hindu food. The Hindu culture prohibits beef and pork. Notably, the bee is from the cows, which have a representative symbol of a mother. On th e other hand, the Hindu view pigs as unclean, and hence pork should not be an ingredient in their food. Many people of the Hindu culture believe that it is wrong to slaughter animals a factor that causes them pain. For this reason, many of the Hindu people avoid animal products and adopt a stringent vegetarian diet. Women who are responsible for preparing food take a birth before any of the ingredients. In addition, there are specific prayers said before cooking the food. When these conditions are met, a woman can then begin food preparation. Hindus observe high levels of cleanliness before partaking food. The male members of the family lead prayers said before undertaking the food. The Hindu people offer thanksgiving through a different set of prayers after eating. The Hindu culture places emphasis on the ritual and mystical significance of food. Since the food is a representation of Brahman, the people usually consider food as God. There are certain mental attitudes associated wit h the person cooking food. In addition, people hold different beliefs towards different types of food. The Hindu culture prohibits the consumption of impure food because it affects the person eating.