Stereotypes and Age (hms)

I thought that for my second blog entry, I would focus on something that is general and break it down. Stereotyping literally happens in every corner of every social issue there is, and so it’s not hard to find examples.  What I am going talk about this time is stereotyping against age groups.  I will focus on just a few very broad age groups that have overlapping age limits that we all can understand as ‘children’, ‘teenagers’, ‘adults’ and ‘elders’.

First I will just simply list some negative AND positive words (and/or phrases) that are often associated as attributes of these different age groups. Although I am completely aware that these are not all true, it is definitely something that can be agreed upon as a stigma of age in each group.

CHILDREN:

• ·      NEGATIVE: Loud, bratty, annoying, unintelligent, vulnerable, unworthy opinion, unaware of their actions, attention seeking, naïve, tantrums
• ·      POSITIVE: Imaginative, caring, non judgmental, sweet, enthusiastic, energetic

TEENAGERS:

• ·      NEGATIVE: Annoyed, selfish, dependent on others, unintelligent, judgmental, arrogant, lazy, partiers, not driven, careless, disrespectful
• ·      POSITIVE: Spunky, fresh minds, energetic

ADULTS:

• ·      NEGATIVE: Stern, bossy, forgetful, work-obsessed, not understanding, judgmental, no fun, serious, busy
• ·      POSITIVE: Mature, independent, organized, wise, caring, smart

ELDERS:

• ·      NEGATIVE: Forgetful, cranky, smelly, bad of hearing, short, weak, quiet, loud, bossy, wrinkly, don’t understand todays youth, strict, looks down on teens
• ·      POSITIVE: Wise, gentle, adores children

As you can see, a lot of these positive and negative characteristics within each age group can be manipulated and rearranged around each other.  That right there is a good enough reason as any as to why stereotypes shouldn’t ever be a legitimate way to judge someone’s character. Children can certainly be bratty and misbehave, and they sure are naïve and unaware of their actions, but that doesn’t mean that they should be treated poorly because of these stigmas. Teenagers have raging hormones that affect their everyday life; probably one of the hardest life changing time periods in anyone’s life.  But that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be treated as young adults who can grow with guidance from their peers and elders.  If they are continuously looked down upon because of the lack of experience they have with a lot of situations, they will be continuously discouraged and not get anywhere.  As for adults and elders, it’s unfair to treat them as if they are all the same strict, bossy, know-it-alls because they have so much to offer to younger generations as well.

Gender stereotyping fits into this category as well when it comes to young children especially.  We have all read about the controversies dealing with 'pink is for girls and blue is for boys'.  Peggy Orenstein certainly deals out her fair share of criticism in her article "What's wrong with Cinderella?"  In this article, she expresses her feelings about the 'princess craze' and how Disney and other big toy companies have created an entire world of gender biased toys for children, and how it is affecting them negatively.  Little boys and girls grow up playing with the toys their parents and teachers give them, and what is being offered to these young children is just 'corporate mind control'.  Although there are 'no studies proving that playing princess directly damages girls' self-esteem or dampens other aspirations', there are studies that show that "young women who hold the most conventionally feminine beliefs are more likely to be depressed than others and less likely to use contraception"(Orenstein).  I thought that was a pretty bizarre study but I do understand how harmful growing up and having to fit the mold of a perfect princess would be.  

We see a lot of these stereotypes portrayed in characters on television and in movies, usually a lot more dramatized than necessary.  In a way, I feel like these kinds of stereotypes are easily used in the media because it gives people something to relate to.  There are so many stereotypical television shows and characters that it’s almost hard to recognize it anymore.  And although it is unfair to use these stereotypes as serious reflections of these age groups, there has to be some truth behind it or else it wouldn’t exist.

In the media, children are often portrayed as lively, cute, energetic, always wanting candy, running wild, etc.  Teenagers can often be portrayed as emotionally unstable, not worried about realistic problems, wearing baggy clothing, often experiencing underage drinking, etc. Elderly people are sometimes the most silly stereotpes seen on television, but maybe its because there is also often some truth to it too.  They are portrayed as wearing old sweaters and slippers, not so active, big framed glasses, dentures falling out, etc.

-An example of the baggy clothes young men are often portrayed as wearing, "Generation Y"

-Discrimination on elders for their age, not having any faith in them.

Like I said before, these stereotypes didn’t just appear out of nowhere.  There is some truth behind each stereotype, and that’s ok! For example, children truly ARE naïve to their surroundings and can be very energetic and also whiney, but that doesn’t hold true to every child at every moment.  Teenagers are hormonal and at a vulnerable and pressuring age that makes things difficult for them emotionally sometimes, but not always.  Adults can often be very into their work and forget to listen to their children and pay attention to their needs sometimes.  And elderly people really do experience memory loss and clumsiness, but its not their fault.  It is important to make sure that children and young adults realize the difference in growing old and feeling old, and how that can affect an elders feelings as well. "Children, keen to understand and find their place in society's most salient social divide, are born into a half-changed world, to parents with half-changed minds" (Fine)