Age-identities and the celebration of birthdays

There is a widespread view among social gerontologists that chronological age is an 'empty' variable, even though it is central to the construction of social identities, both in bureaucratic contexts and in less formal social interaction. This paper draws on material stored in the Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex, England. A large panel of 'ordinary people' was asked to write about 'growing older' in 1992 and about 'birthdays' in 2002. An analysis of the ways in which they revealed their age demonstrates that the revelation of chronological age is unproblematic in certain contexts that are deemed appropriate. Difficulties arise as a result of the association of age with various more nebulous statuses such as 'middle-aged' and 'old'. The implications for the concept of 'the third age' are discussed and it is concluded that social gerontology should pay more attention to the theoretical significance of chronological age and age-identity and less to age statuses

Writing about age, birthdays and the passage of time

How do we experience ageing, how do we interpret changes in our lives and what do we say about the passage of time? The aim of this paper is to present longitudinal evidence about the personal and social significance of birthdays in adult life and, in particular, how birthdays contribute to a sense of ageing. The primary source of data is the Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex. Members of its panel of 'ordinary' people living in the United Kingdom were in 1990 invited to write anonymously about celebrations, and in 2002 they were invited to write more specifically on the topic of birthdays. A total of 120 accepted both invitations and 55 included accounts of their last birthday in both submissions. As a consequence, it is possible to compare what they wrote on the two occasions and how this reflects their unfolding experience and changing feelings about age. The analysis reveals the personal salience of the date of a birthday and of continuity in how birthdays are celebrated. Who remembers birthdays and who participates in their celebration reflect the generational structure of families and age-related patterns of friendship. Birthdays are used to celebrate collective continuity more than individual change

The need for fresh blood: understanding organizational age inequality through a vampiric lens

YesThis article argues that older age inequality within and across working life is the result of vampiric forms and structures constitutive of contemporary organizing. Rather than assuming ageism occurs against a backdrop of neutral organizational processes and practices, the article denaturalizes (and in the process super-naturalizes) organizational orientations of ageing through three vampiric aspects: (un)dying, regeneration and neophilia. These dimensions are used to illustrate how workplace narratives and logics normalize and perpetuate the systematic denigration of the ageing organizational subject. Through our analysis it is argued that older workers are positioned as inevitable ‘sacrificial objects’ of the all-consuming immortal organization. To challenge this, the article explicitly draws on the vampire and the vampiric in literature and popular culture to consider the possibility of subverting existing notions of the ‘older worker’ in order to confront and challenge the subtle and persistent monstrous discourses that shape organizational life

Positioning gerontology in an ageist world

There is much to be learned from the study of how people and organizations have established gerontology as a discipline and endeavoured to position it, both in relation to other disciplines and in the wider world. The wider worlds in which gerontologists undertake their work are essentially ageist in the sense that people are regularly classified according to age and then either privileged or denied what are deemed to be 'appropriate' opportunities or services. I review 117 articles published in Ageing & Society between 1997 and 2000. Authors appeared to be reluctant to use the concept of ageism and none of the research being reported was undertaken in collaboration with the campaigning organizations of older people. I conclude with three recommendations regarding the positioning of gerontology

Ageism and age categorization

Two approaches to defining ageism are discussed. The signficance of chronological age, both for bureaucratic procedures and for research, is considered. This demonstrates how birthdays are associated not just with changing status regading employment and retirement, but also cultural transformations. The relevance of research based on age categories is critically discussed. It is argued that, while such research provides essential evidence of ageism, it inevitably tends to homogenize, particulary when open-ended 'oldest' categories are used. The article concludes with a discussion of four alternative frameworks

Visual representations of late life

This chapter is part of a continuing series of analyses of images of later life.It focuses on the link between photographic image and text, comparing a published collection of the work of the celebrated American photographer, Imogen Cunnigham, and one edition of a UK magazine aimed at older people. It concludes that both offer the viewer an image of how old age might be different to the lived reality

Cataloguing old age

Old age is a concept that lends itself to visual display. This chapter begins with a review of some well-known examples of series of photographs of old age. We then discuss picture libraries and analyse the captions and content of 320 images of old age available in one popular library. We discuss how it associates old age with being elderly and receiving care services. In this way the picture library reinforces stereotyping images of old age

Perceptions and presentations of living with everyday risk in later life

In a context of neo-liberalism, individual responsibility for risk and the protection of individuals from risk has led to risk management and assessment becoming central to the practice of social work. Social workers' involvement with older people tends to occur in crisis situations, with the result that stereotypical understandings of the vulnerability of older people may be reinforced. Drawing on data from interviews and diaries, the article presents a temporal analysis of the ways in which perceptions of risk are presented by older people themselves and the people close to them. It reveals how older people link risk to family, health and social relations, and how they account for their continuing survival. In interviews, older people present their lives as well ordered and organised. By contrast, diaries that detail their everyday activities offer evidence of a more active engagement in risk avoidance, suggesting that living with everyday risk is a salient feature of late life. Integrating these two temporal framings, we argue for a more processual understanding of risk in later life and how it is evaluated and experienced by older people

The use of medicines bought in pharmacies and other retail outlets

Although older people in the UK receive free prescriptions for their medicines they are still significant purchasers of medicines and other pharmaceutical products. This chapter is based on research conducted by the authors and funded by the Department of Health on the management of long term medication by older people. A representative sample of seventy seven people age 75 years or more took part in the research. The chapter reports the findings relating to the use and consumption of over the counter products. It identifies four categories of usage by older people: for prevention and health maintenance; to treat symptoms as an alternative to going to the doctor; to supplement or replace prescription medicines; to treat the side effects of prescription medicines. It concludes that the study of the use of over the counter medicines is important in understanding older people's health maintenance strategies and their use of prescription medicines