Learning to Be Old: How Qualitative Research Contributes to Our Understanding of Ageism

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

Deborah K.van den Hoonaard¹ 

关键词: ageism;    identity;    gender;    social process;    positivism;   

DOI  :  10.1177/1609406918810556

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

Today, we have a life expectancy that earlier eras could not have dreamed of. An aging population is the hallmark of a successful society. How is it, then, that we consider one of the greatest achievements of society to be a disaster? This talk argues that the beliefs underlying ageism, based on the premise that all old people are the same, pervade contemporary thinking. Despite the fact that becoming old involves physical changes, aging has a significant social component. This presentation marks the culmination of 25 years of qualitative research in gerontology. Given the theme of the conference, the talk begins by discussing how the Trojan horse of positivist approaches is eroding the inductive nature of qualitative research. It then illustrates, based on inductive, interpretive research, how we learn to be old and accept myths associated with aging through the way people treat us.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC