Discrimination against the Elderly A problem of the Ages
I. Introduction
The traditional values of close proximity among family members and the protection of the old people in the community is one of the strongest characteristics of man. This is one of the foundations towards the creation of communities and societies. In many parts of the world, the elders provide a particular role in the community, although they are not expected with tasks that require the skill and vigor and strength of youth. Often, the elders are respected for their wisdom, for their role in propagating the oral traditions, beliefs and the overall culture of the community. They are the group of people who have a significant hold and influence over the people. In many cases, the image of an old individual depicts wisdom and guidance. As such, people who have great minds like religious leaders (shamans, priests etc) as well as folkloric characters like sorcerers and magicians are often characterized and depicted as one of the old people or is representative of the elderly. A few years ago, British billionaire Robert Branson and many civic minded individuals created a group aptly named The Elders. The Elders a group of different men and women from different fields around the globe, all of which believed to have and possess the wisdom necessary for them to conceptualize and affect change regarding the problems that the world is facing. These are just some of the examples of the role and importance of the elderly in the everyday modern life. In close scrutiny, it appears that not all of the elders are privileged or fortunate enough to be in a community or society and live a life wherein the elders are not marginalized and discriminated upon. Many elderly in Europe, for years now, has been the target and subject of acts of discrimination.
While this may come as a shocking revelation to those who maybe appalled by such condition in selected areas in Europe, this is nonetheless true - Europe is ageing (Bockel, 2007, p. 69). The shift of the attitudes and beliefs and the change in culture that now leans toward practicality and optimum productivity from its workforce have been sold to the idea that there is a rational, morally and ethically-sound justification for the discrimination of the elders in many aspects of life. It is missing the idea that discrimination, in itself, is already affront to the human race and the concept of protecting ones kin regardless of whether one is too young or too old (Council of Europe, 2006, p. 5). The notion of equal rights and its corollary, non-discrimination, are at the very heart of human rights protection (Council of Europe, 2006, p. 5). It appears that there is a shift towards a Darwinian approach to life - the survival of the fittest. In the world where the population is growing larger and larger by the minute, it is not surprising that people are actually supporting the idea that they should only go for the best possible options. Sadly, the elders are often not among those options, being denied with opportunities in the different aspect of life because of one reason they are old. There are many reasons to explain the shift in paradigm and outlook. In the past, being old does not mean being useless. Philosophers became aged men who are nonetheless sought by thinkers for their minds. Patriarchs and kings command the respect and possess the authority to lead a house or the entire kingdom even passes the modern age of retirement at 60. Now, the society has had a change in how they look upon the elderly. This resulted to the cases of discrimination - at home, at work and in employment opportunities, in accessing basic welfare needs like healthcare, in exercising political and civic rights and being politically relevant as a group of individuals. Indeed, the elderly has become a group of people that has to bear not just the continuing trend of neglect but also discrimination and marginalization.
II. Research Design
A. Research
The research is focused on discussing the different forms and manifestations of discrimination against the elderly in the society with focus on the two main problems of discrimination- work employment and welfare (i.e. health care, etc). Discrimination comes in different forms. Some display discrimination through the practice of employing only young individuals to work and marginalizing the elderly in the belief that they are feeble, weaker in mental faculty, slower, less agile, cranky and more difficult to shape and mold to fit in the corporate culture or way of life inside the company. In other cases, discrimination comes in the form of viewing elders as useless, pushing them out of homes and putting them in the care of complete strangers instead of the elders own family. In any case, discrimination targeted on the elderly has been a serious problem around the world. Europe in particular has seen its population of elderly people ensnared in the web of problems that arises from the practice of discrimination on the elderly on different aspects of everyday life.
B. Theories
The analysis of the cultural characteristic of societies looking down upon its elderly and putting less and less attention, effort and importance to the elderly has prompted the creation of new theories and the use of older, existing theories in the hope to explain such predicament. The key theory here is the Darwinian model of the survival of the fittest. Whether consciously or not, deliberate or otherwise, it appears that man and his society or community is looking at addressing the problem of growing population. One of the resulting consequences is the discrimination versus the elderly. The youth sector entering the workforce overpowers the elderly. Because of their physical characteristics like power, skill, fresh ideas and adaptability to change to working conditions (not to mention willingness for lower wages), they become a factor that pushes elderly people off the market. This is an enticing opportunity for employers. Because of the growing population, government funding centered for the youth and the young like health, education, social welfare etc., are being eaten up and consumed, leaving very little left to dispense for the welfare of the elderly. The fittest will be the one to survive, but the paradigm for selection of the society automatically puts into handicap the elderly because discrimination has already put the elderly in great disadvantage over and against other age groups when it comes to relevance, importance and significance in the society. According to Darwin, the fittest will survive, but equally important is the concept that the society should give everyone equal chances and opportunities for survival.
C. Methods
The discussion and analysis of the problem on the various aspects and manifestations of discrimination against the elderly for a long period of time is made possible through different methods. First, there is the research targeted on a particular group of people and society wherein the different actions, manifestations and forms of discrimination against the elderly is present. This is followed by the analysis of the situation through the use of theories and other inputs from the professionals involved in this field, explaining the reasons as well as the rationale of this particular type of behavior among individuals and groups of people inside the society or community. This study, research and analysis is strongly hinged on the input, information and content of peer reviewed journals as well as scholarly sources like books and news from reputable news websites in the Internet that aided in the synthesizing of the information gathered and collected.
D. Target population
The target population is the people of Europe, particularly the elderly people in this continent where discrimination versus the elderly is a serious problem. What happens to this particular target population is viewed not just merely in the context and condition of this particular population and the society or community where they live in. It is also assessed and analyzed based on how this phenomenon happens in other places as well. The putting of the similar conditions side by side the conditions in the target population strengthens the bigger thrust of the paper, and that is besides the selected population, it also happens somewhere else. Collectively, this proves the problem of discrimination against the elders happening in the global scale.
III. Discussion
Professional researchers study the problem of discrimination versus the elderly in many different aspects. Politicians and policy-makers, advocacy groups, journalists and opinion writers have strongly wrote against discrimination versus the elderly, not just in Europe, but in a global scale, addressing discrimination versus the elderly in general and pointing out its inherent evil. Broderick (2009) referred to discrimination versus the elderly as unlawful. According to her, it is a frustration that is shared by a large group of people, considering the fact that the world is experiencing a longer life expectancy in the last few years (Broderick, 2009). Many individuals populate the elderly group and vis-a-vis, many individuals are affected or are set to be affected by the acts of discrimination targeted at this particular group. For Trafford (2005), it is a problem that has become pervasive (Trafford, 2005). Besides being unlawful, Broderick also pointed out that this situation is a major factor why the elders are suffering from eroding confidence and are more reluctant to pursue work altogether (Broderick, 2009). In job listings, they have coded messages that translate simply to the discouragement of elderly people to apply. In the workplace, the promotion is often offered to younger employees. Older people are often forced to tender less hours, accept lower wages than what should be in the context of legal and fair.
A. Discrimination versus the elderly in Europe
The problem of discrimination versus the elderly in Europe is a reality. Everyday, there are many different instances wherein the elderly is being discriminated against and marginalized not just at work but also in other aspects like welfare, healthcare, importance and priority in the family. This discrimination concerns their employment, their access to health care, education and financial services and their involvement in political decision-making (Bockel, 2007, p. 69). Because of this, institutions have already verbalized their recognition on this matter and the persistence of such a problem. Very often, the victims of discrimination belong to the most vulnerable groups in our societies, such as asylum seekers, immigrants, and members of ethnic and national minorities, the elderly or persons with disabilities (Council of Europe, 2006, p. 5). Individuals who direct discrimination versus the elderly often rationalize that this is just and reasonable. The elderly are feeble, weak, powerless and useless to the society. They are not expected to be productive and often reliant only on the support of family, friends or social welfare institutions.
The discrimination versus the elderly is pronounced significantly at work. In the past, many European countries do not have laws and policies that can protect the elderly from discrimination. Employers resort to employing younger work force, which is more mobile, more dynamic, more in tune with the current social conditions like trends and technology, and often requires lower or cheaper compensation compared to their older counterparts. Younger workforce do not threaten companies with compensation responsibilities that older workforce or the elderly does, like payment for retirement. Being relatively healthier compared to older people, younger workforce is less likely to be sick and sent in to the hospital, minimizing the companys spending and costs. Indeed, elderly discrimination at work and employment is a serious issue in Europe. In many cases, it transcends the boundaries of social status and financial and economic groupings of the society.
The poor and the non-influential people are just as at risk as those who are rich and popular. For example, actor Pierce Brosnan, a charismatic on-screen ladys man who has done many projects and has been one of the faces of the James Bond flick. He explained in an interview with a mens magazine how he took offense in the fact that the company has decided that it was time to have another old actor play the James Bond part in the belief that Brosnan was already old for the part, when Brosnan himself admitted that he still can, look and work the part (Playboy Magazine, 2005, p. 18). The problem with the discrimination of the elderly in Europe may have very little literature focused on actual experiences of people. Proof that it existed and was a problem was the fact that many countries in the past have made marked development and progression regarding the creation and implementation of policies which protects the elders from discrimination at work. Besides the country-based legislation development, there is also the fact that the European Union has constantly made the concern of the elderly and the threat of discrimination against them as an important agenda for the organization to tackle and provide a solution for. Indeed, countries, organizations and leaders have finally been made conscious of the problem of discrimination versus the elderly (Eriksson, Wolf, 2005, p. 12). The situation of the Elderly in Europe has received increased attention of late (Eriksson, Wolf, 2005, p. 12). This is considered as a positive development that can lead to the creation of actions, plans and policies that can help change the society and provide solutions to the problem in both the short term and the long term levels.
European socio-political and socio-cultural writers, critics and analysts have put forward the issue of elderly discrimination in many different platforms. For example, parliament assemblies in Europe have been used by politicians and socio-political and socio-cultural critics to point to the existence of the problem of discrimination versus the elderly so that attention, and later solution and change, can be achieved (Bocke, 2007, p. 69). For example, reports are being pushed forward to the consciousness of the people who can spearhead the necessary actions for change. These people have constantly reminded the government that elderly persons still too often encounter discrimination, whether in their daily lives or in an occupational context (Bocke, 2007, p. 69).
The elder people, as a group, are suffering from being discriminated against and marginalized in the society. This is reflected in the news coming from the traditional media like newspapers, radio and television, as well as new media like the Internet. The problem of discrimination versus the elderly as reflected in news is not simply reflective on work opportunities, but also in health care. BBC, a leading British news organization reported how the resources needed for the care of elderly with mental health problems have been inadequate. The elderly people who are migrants to the Europe are considered as a common target for discrimination. The impact of such acts is often twice or even thrice as harsh compared to how Europeans are being discriminated in their own land (Knight, 2006). The minority ethnic groups have their own set of elderly people and these too are suffering from the problem of discrimination in Europe. Websites like The Conference of European Churches pointed out that the problem of discrimination in the elderly is strong especially in areas like the Central and Eastern Europe. In these areas, people are in need of attention to address the problems they have to face with regards to ageing and how the society is treating them and their condition with unacceptable ways and means, including the use of discrimination and acts of discrimination and marginalization towards their kind (The Conference of European Churches, 2010).
B. Culture and discrimination of the elders
The prevalence and continued persistence of practices that define and characterize the acts) of discrimination on the elders is strongly affected, above everything else, but culture. If the culture is discouraging such practice and if the culture is more likely to frown upon practices that are detrimental to the welfare of the elders, acts discriminating elders would have not persisted. It would have not been completely eradicated since there will always be random practices of discrimination on the elders as a result of personal experiences. The range and extent of the practice on discrimination versus the elders has made it obvious that this is more than small, isolated practices. It is a set of practice that has been occurring and happening in many parts of the world through the years. Culture is the main factor for this occurrence.
In the United States, the culture prides itself with empowering the elders, by opening job opportunities for the elders and trumpeting the success of the phenomenon that is employment empowerment among the elders who are getting more and more work opportunities. However, inside the same country and cultural context is the prevalent practice of sending the older members of the family especially those who are not member of the nuclear family to nursing homes. It is a practice which, over the years have generated different stories about how the elderly die there, feeling unloved, depressed, restless and other negative behavior not because of the conditions inside the nursing home but because of how the elderly feels regarding the actions directed to them by their relatives putting them in nursing homes. This is a form of marginalizing the elders and putting little attention to them and their welfare. In other Asian countries especially in poor and financially and economically countries or in depressed areas inside these countries, there are many stories about how families maltreat their elders about how some are caged as animals about how some are denied medical attention in order to save money about how some elderly people are simply allowed to die to avoid a bigger financial burden that comes with providing longer care about how many elders are forced to retire or leave their jobs when legally they are still capable to work and about how companies are simply discriminating against elderly people and opting not to hire them and opt for younger work force which is also cheaper.
i. Culture and the role of culture in interpersonal relations, behavior, attitudes, values and perceptions Culture is important. Inside the culture, man is dictated what he or she should do. If the culture in the place (for example, in Europe) has discouraged the practice of discriminating people because of age, the discrimination versus the elderly would have not been a problem. Culture is important because it is easily transferred and transmitted to an individual. This has allowed for the rapid spread and growth of cultural factors, features and beliefs. In the age of immense cross-cultural heterogeneity found across the world, cultural traits can be easily transferred and implanted in another culture, affecting the culture. In a place like Europe where human traffic is easy since terrestrial borders are easy to cross, the cultural characteristic of discriminating against the elderly can be easily transferred from one culture to the other, and thus influence its spread.
C. Potential problems the population has to deal with
The elderly population has to deal with many problems as a result of the discrimination it has to compete among themselves for the very scarce job opportunities that are actually given to the elderly they have to struggle and make do with what the government can offer them with regard to social welfare needs like health, medicine and other things they have to bear the psychological, emotional and mental burden of knowing that the society has discriminated against you and the government is close to being powerless to do something about it and make corrections to this incorrect social behavior. In a case to case basis, the complexities are magnified. The potential problems are bigger and more difficult.
There are many different journals that accommodate the needs of the elders by publishing the works of professionals. These works tackles the factors that are directly affecting the elders in the community or society and how they are being targeted by discrimination and bias because of their age. In an article written by De Mendonca Lima, et. al., (2003) published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, it revealed that the elderly are being discriminated upon and these results to stigma upon the elderly, particularly those who have mental health needs (De Mendonca Lima et al, 2003, p. 679). This problem on discrimination targeting the elderly, particularly in Europe, just got a turn for the worse with information like this surfacing among professionals. This strengthens the idea that Europe indeed has a problem with regards to its elderly since their elderly are being victimized by discrimination. If this trend continues, then this situation can pose a potential problem in particular to elders who are in need of mental age. It is no secret that the individual is becoming more and more prone to mental health problems. If the society cannot provide enough care for the elderly as a result of the discrimination in the health and welfare aspect of the society, then this is a portent of how worse things would turn in the future should this problem remains unchecked.
D. Suggested possible solutions that could be implemented in a professional setting
The recognition of the problem regarding discrimination and the elderly in Europe requires a course of action. Since there are many aspects regarding discrimination and the elderly, there are many particular course of action that is needed to be explored to address this problem manifesting in different fields and spheres in the society. Each specific form of discrimination has its own distinctive features and requires specific attention (Council of Europe, 2006, p. 5). In view and recognition of the fact that there is a problem in discrimination directed towards the elderly population particularly in Europe, the next question now begs to explore the answer to the query on what can be done. The European Union, according to McDonald and Potton (1997) seems to be exploring the ways and means wherein the elderly can be protected from the threat of discrimination versus the elderly. This is by using the power of legislation and law, among other things, to curb the possibility of this phenomenon becoming a trend and later on a significant social characteristic which is morally and ethically unacceptable (McDonald and Potton, 1997, p. 293). In the paper that was supposed to tackle solutions and course of action, the European Union or EU also deliberated regarding the absence of a consensus regarding the course of action for protecting the elderly and the implementation of the necessary laws, as well as measures to address the issue ageism and its negative impact in the society particularly in Europe.
The ideal solution is to have policies that will be implemented in the professional setting. For example, professionals interacting with elders should be guided by policies that dictate the behavior of the professionals toward the elders and protect the elders toward the possible acts of discrimination that can be done and directed towards them. Also, the importance of being informed, of being vigilant, and in being proactive in fighting the wrong system in the society cannot be downplayed. In every issue of discrimination, like sexual, gender and ethnic-based discrimination, the society was able to hurdle such problem of the society not just because of what the legislators and the government did, but more importantly, because of the participation of the target and potential and actual victims. The same consciousness should be applied in the fight to abolish the social problem of discrimination of the elderly. For the government, what they can do is use the power of implementing laws, rules and policies to give the elders the means by which they can protect and defend themselves from cases of discrimination versus the elderly and to discourage those who are thinking of doing something like that in the future. Law is indeed a powerful tool that can be used to change the conditions of the society. For years now, professionals in the field of law particularly inside Europe has been believed to be working in this particular problem. This was reflected in the work of Meenan (2007) which explores the important aspects regarding the EU and its role in addressing the elderly and discrimination problem in the continent and among its member countries (Meenan, 2007, p. 39).
Solutions to problems that will require the participation of professionals, and solutions that can affect the professionals at the same time is being worked on consistently by concerned organization and groups. In fact, the demand for such groups and the roles and responsibilities that they undertake created many groups in Europe directed at helping the elderly victimized by problems like discrimination and the growth of these groups and their works illustrate the growth and persistence of the problem at hand. Groups like Active Aging in Europe, Europe Senior Citizens Union which provided an article in its website regarding discrimination versus the elderly in Europe, as well as Age Concern - UK and other research networks and social welfare groups in the continent are believed to be consistently working to bring to the fore suggestions and solutions to the problems created by the issue on discrimination versus the elders (European Senior Citizen Union, 2009).
The elderly should find it very satisfying that the EU is closely looking at the disposition of its member countries when it comes to protecting its elders from discrimination in all forms and in all spheres of the social life. Law has been, so far, the most powerful weapon for agencies of change like the EU. That is why the EU is relentless in discovering the loopholes in the laws of its member countries and is active in reminding them of their responsibility to address the situation and rectify the problem. For example, it has, in particular, investigated Spain and its state of protection for the elderly, to which the Spanish government was found lacking (European Union, 2007, p. 759). The committee observes that age does not figure explicitly among the grounds of prohibited discrimination (European Union, 2007, p. 759), In the countrys Article 14, it was explained that the Spaniard is only protected versus discrimination in the aspects of birth, race, sex, religion and opinion, as well as in any other condition or personal and social circumstance. But the committee was also happy to report development, especially on how Spain, during the next investigation, has been found with the necessary framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation that protects the welfare and interests of the elderly and protects them from incidence of discrimination (European Union, 2007, p. 759).
Besides Spain, other European countries were also examined by the European Union to see if the existing laws in the country are supportive of the elders and help the elderly fight discrimination practices in the many different fields of the society. According to the report of the EU, Italy, another prominent European country, has had a marked and positive progression regarding safeguarding the society and making it considerate to the plight of the elders through the laws and policies that the Italian government have been developing for the sake of the elderly and for the protection of the elderly from discrimination (Council of Europe, 2007, p. 756). This was followed by developments in the field of health care as well as decision-making assistance so that the elderly is assisted and is allowed to fully live their lives without the threat of discrimination stemming from their age.
In 2007, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has also noted that some of the actions that are necessary to rectify the situation and address the problem include the review of the social support programmes for the elderly (Bockel, 2007, p. 69). In the discussion of the protection of human rights in Europe, politicians argue about significant cases and problems in the continent. In the course of the discussion, they identified as one of the problems the discrimination versus the elderly in many parts of Europe. In the discussion, they identified the course of action and the path they intend to pursue to address the problem (Great Britain Parliament, 2006, p. 13).
IV. Conclusion
The elderly has been discriminated (Medeiros, 2007). It is happening in many places and one of them is Europe. Regardless of geographic underpinnings, the world should re-assess how it appraises and treats its elderly. It should re-examine how the society handles the problem of discrimination versus the elderly, see its impact and explore the ways and means for the problem to be remedied. The elderly maybe not similar in characteristics compared to how they are in the peak of their productivity, but they are nonetheless capable of being productive. As human beings, they should never be treated with discrimination and should not be marginalized. Like every one else, they have needs that the society should provide for. They can still contribute something that the society can appreciate and use.
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