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20 - Human Rights and Well-Being of Older Persons

Challenges and Opportunities

from Part III - Contemporary Issues in Psychology and Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2020

By
Janet Sigal ,
Nélida Quintero  and
Emily Valente
Edited by
Neal S. Rubin  and
Roseanne L. Flores
Neal S. Rubin
Affiliation:
Adler University
Roseanne L. Flores
Affiliation:
Hunter College, City University of New York
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Summary

The World Health Organization defines ageism as “stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination towards people based on their age” (WHO, 2018). Ageist beliefs and stereotypes are expressed in cultural and media representations, institutional and governmental policies, and social practices that may limit people’s access to the resources necessary to lead healthy and productive lives, such as employment opportunities, housing choices, and health services. Under these circumstances, older persons are more vulnerable to social exclusion, political disempowerment, income insecurity, financial exploitation, homelessness, violence, and abuse leading to human rights violations such as the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. This chapter examines how these violations impact older persons from a social psychological perspective through a selective literature review focused on ageism issues, including the impact of ageism on how old age is defined as a social category in various societies; how older persons are portrayed in culture and media; and how they are differently perceived and treated as migrants, patients, and workers. Possible best practices to reduce or eliminate ageism globally are also discussed.

Keywords

ageismage discriminationage stereotypesolder workersolder personsolder migrantsolder patientsaginghuman rightssocial psychologymedia representation
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology and Human Rights , pp. 303 - 316
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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