Generally speaking, in Western-influenced [and post-colonial] societies, late adulthood and the ageing process are associated with bodily malfunction and decline - growing old is something to be dreaded. This dominant view of ageing, however, can be considered a cultural construct which is perpetuated by stereotypes of elderly people and the ageing process in the media (Westerhof & Tulle, 2007). Older adults have been stereotyped as:
Societal perspectives of ageing vary widely from culture to culture, and shift over time. Countries such as Japan and China traditionally revered older people – they were seen as a source of wisdom. Recent research, however, has suggested that an East-West dichotomy of positive-negative views towards older people is an over-simplification of a much more complex situation, in which individualistic societies might in fact hold more positive, respectful perspective towards older adults than the stereotype suggests (North & Fiske, 2015).
On the next page, you are going to watch two videos which portray ideas and examples of late adulthood in two non-Western cultures. You will then be asked to take part in a discussion.