All organisms undergo a natural process of aging. Though the biological process is easy to understand because of scholarly interpretation, the cultural aspect is the most challenging and diverse. According to Chonody & Teater (2018), ageism describes discrimination and stereotyping of people because they are old. I live in a society where people interpret aging based on their behavior, feelings, and beliefs they acquire through their lives. Therefore I must assess the cultural interpretation of aging and the effect of media and celebrity in shaping the cultural perception of aging.
Currently, aging is one of the common forms of prejudice that is ignored. I noticed my country put a lot of emphasis on racism, but ageism presents problems of equal measure. Chonody & Teater (2018) posit that young people are perceived as symbols for longevity, vitality, and beauty whereas the old are regarded as failures and are associated with disgust. This notion is common and is often used to undermine older members of the family. As the misconceptions gain a factual status in the community, they further support elderly stereotyping (Chonody & Teater, 2018). The acceptance of the stereotype and focus on the youth has significantly eroded and undermined the achievements and status of older people.
Celebrities and media further fuel these prejudices through their influence on society. Celebrities spread information that promotes being young and condemns aging (Jerslev, & Petersen, 2018). I have witnessed more people spending money on cosmetics that would make them younger in was that criminalizes aging. The media presentation of aging has deterioration and psychological effects on celebrities once they age (Jerslev & Petersen, 2018). Not unless the media, celebrities, and the public reconsider their position on ageism, my community will continue to perpetuate the aging stereotype. These actions can affect the well-being and the health of elderly members of the family.