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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Heroines, villains and victims
— older people's perceptions of others | | Author(s) | Jean Townsend, Mary Godfrey, Tracy Denby |
| Journal title | Ageing and Society, vol 26, part 6, November 2006 |
| Pages | pp 883-900 |
| Source | http://www.journals.cambridge.org/jid_ASO |
| Keywords | Ageing process ; Attitudes to the old of general public ; Interpretation ; Qualitative Studies ; England. |
| Annotation | This paper examines older people's contrasting images of older people as 'those like us' and as 'others'. It draws on data from a qualitative study about the experience of ageing that was undertaken in partnership with two local groups of older people in England. Whilst the informants acknowledged their chronological age, changes in appearance and physical limitations, most did not describe themselves as old. They challenged the idea of older people being 'past it'. Older people who personified their own values of inter-dependence, reciprocity and keeping going were seen as 'heroines' of old age, but negative stereotypes were ascribed simultaneously to others, 'the villains'. Aspects of behaviour which evoked censure were 'giving up', 'refused to be helped' and 'taking without putting back', and were usually attributed to acquaintances known only at a distance. The victims of old age were primarily people with dementia, who were perceived as 'needing to be looked after' and objects of pity and concern. The paper explores the ways in which these various images of old age related to people's self-identity and management of the ageing process, especially in a society that has ambivalent conceptions of old age. The findings contribute to an understanding of how people's values underpin their conception of 'a good old age' and how they shape their interpretation of societal stereotypes. They also indicate the importance of considering whose voices are heard in the context of exploring the identity and contributions of older people to achieve a more inclusive society. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-061113004 A |
| Classmark | BG: TOB: 4CC: 3DP: 82 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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