ENTRY 13: Ageism is Expensive

1.     Summary of article – what is article about? (brief – do not tell the entire story)

Research at Yale found that discriminating against people because of their age is very costly for medical systems. To the tune of $63 billion over the course of one year in the United States. The study was conducted with many aims but one of which was a way of gaining more people on the bandwagon to abolish age discrimination. The business-minded people are always interested in knowing the cost of the situation. How $63 billion was arrived at was skimmed over them but the short and skinny is that they added the cost of 1. negative age stereotypes and 2. negative self-perception of aging with the health care spending data for the eight most expensive health care conditions among Americans 60 years or older. They hope to spark a store type change. They said, according to their theory ageism exits because" if during childhood you think that older adults are weak and frail, that view becomes self-relevant as you age." This becomes a large issue as the worlds median population continues to age. They cite that "between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over the age of 60 will double, going from 12 to 25 percent, according to the World Health Organization."

2.     How does the story relate to oppression/discrimination?

This piece tells about the supposed cost of discriminating against the elderly. This is a unique vantage point into the conversation about oppression and discrimination. I have not read much data regarding the cost of discrimination. This is, however, a needed perspective. The unfortunate truth is that money speaks and some people won't get behind a mission until they can see that it provides them with a financial benefit.

3.     Who is oppressed?

Those who are oppressed are those who are discrimination against' because of their age. The study considered those who were 60 and above but ageism is not limited to this demographic.

4.     Who is oppressing?

Society as a whole, according to their theory. They say, "according to stereotype embodiment theory if during childhood you think that older adults are weak and frail, that view becomes self-relevant as you age.”

5.     How are they oppressed? What type of oppression/discrimination is involved (individual, organization, structural, make argument for other types)?

People who are viewed as week and old are oppressed in that they are not given the same chances as those who are viewed as stronger and more capable. However, isn't everyone who is viewed as strong and capable not given the same chances? I don't see how age really comes into it. My boss is 60 but still works like a mad man. If you are capable you can work if you can't, you can't. Perhaps more light will be shed on this subject in my future days but for now, I am a skeptic of this. If ageism is really as a big a deal as it sounds then it takes place at a national or society level seeing that it is an idea that people are raised with and it becomes their perspective. It then permeates every facet of life. 

6.     Explore the significance in our society. What are the implications for this oppression? What does this say about the values of our society?

This says that we, as a society, place value on people based on how much they can contribute to society. If they are strong and can contribute more, they are more valuable they are, the more chances they are afforded. It also says that as you are viewed, unless you strongly fight it, so you become, or so you are held to be. The over 60's suffered more disease because of ageism because they internalized the views. 

7.     What was your personal reaction? Explore thoroughly. What aspects(s) of your own socialization has led you to this reaction?

Personally, I think this is ridiculous. People use to work their whole life. It has only been relatively recent that people began to quit and relax at 65. I think all people who are weak and feeble are not afforded chances that others are because they can't do them. Am I wrong? Perhaps this course should move to cover ageism in the future. I get it if someone how is 45 and has a lot of experience is turned down in favor of someone who is 25 but really? Thinking that 60 somethings who don't work are less strong? I don't get that.

8.     What did you learn?

I learned that the places were supposedly the best minds come from can produce an article that has a lot of fluff with very little substance. I learned that a discrimination runs deeper than a single group of people not being liked, it is a heart issue, it is a human issue. I learned that weakness is equated with valuelessness and age is something that goes out of style. I learned that people like the new and don't like the old. 

9.     How do you think the media represents this story?

I think this was the worst written piece I have read all semester. It did not explain in any dept how the large claim was established as factual. I will give it credit for establishing its validity for needing to be looked into though. Overall I was very unimpressed with the Yale Daily News. Hopefully, it was just a once off. 

10.  What was your source? I read the article on the YaleDailyNews.com. If can be viewed by following this link: https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2018/11/14/ageism-in-health-care-found-to-cost-63-billion-annually/