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Symposium

Behavioral and Social Sciences

Ageism Everywhere All at Once: Different Manifestations and Research Approaches

Wednesday, November 13, 2024
8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
Location: Room 615
CE: 1.5

In the over 50 years since ageism was defined, the impact of age prejudice has never been clearer, with the increased expression of age bias both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This symposium aims to highlight the pervasive nature of ageism through a range of methodological approaches, including in-depth interviews, social media scraping, and experimental surveys, to underscore the ubiquity of ageism in contemporary society. We delve into various facets of ageism, exploring its manifestations in ageist group labels, media representations, beauty standards, and even its correlation with suicidal ideation. We also investigate ways to challenge ageist comments through confrontation. Vale assesses the impact of using ageist terms such as ‘elderly’ and ‘senior citizen’ on perceptions of older people. Fraser and colleagues explore online reactions to “The Golden Bachelor,” the first older adult-focused version of the reality tv show. Soulie et al. investigate older women’s responses to ageist beauty norms, including when they accept or resist them. Gendron and colleagues examine the role of internalized ageism in suicidal ideation among older people. Gans et al. test whether reactions to ageism confrontation vary by the intersecting identities (gender and race) of the older adult confronter as well as by the confrontation technique that is used. Altogether, these talks shed light on the multifaceted nature of ageism in North American society and offer valuable insights into strategies for combatting age bias.

International Association of Gerontology & Geriatrics North American Regional Committee Sponsored Symposium

Learning Objectives:

  • After attending this session, participants will be able to define ageism and understand how it is manifested and experienced by older adults.
  • After attending this session, participants will have a greater understanding of the prevalence of ageism against older adults as well as the diversity of research approaches used to understand ageism.

Presentations:

  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
    Reframing Aging: The Impact of Labels on Attitudes Toward Older Adults

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Michael T. Vale, PhD (he/him/his) – Sacred Heart University

  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
    The Influence of Media Portrayals on Ageism: A Case Study of The Golden Bachelor

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Sarah Fraser, PhD (she/her/hers) – University of Ottawa

  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
    "Just Don't Look Old; That's What'll Kill You": Examining Older Women's Response to Ageist Beauty Norms

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Brianna Soulie, M.S. (she/her/hers) – Florida State University

  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
    Internalized Ageism as a Risk Factor for Suicidal Ideation in Later Life

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Tracey Gendron, PhD – Virginia Commonwealth University

  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM PST
    Calling Out Ageism: How Intersecting Identities and Confrontation Tone Affect Perceptions of Older Confronters

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Hannah Gans (she/her/hers) – University of Toronto