In the beginning of class, we discussed the first few readings from Stoller and Gibson’s Worlds of Differences: Inequality in the Aging Experience, a collection of stories and poems about aging in society. This week’s discussion covered the theme of the life course perspective, the concept that people living in the same time may undergo similar global events but respond differently to such events based on their personal experiences and sociocultural identities. The stories in the book are powerful as they present a diversity of perspectives from different minority groups in the United States. As an immigrant in the country, I found myself and my family in the narratives about minority groups and the hardships they face – the anxiety about moving, the excruciating homesickness, and the exploitation of newcomers by a profit-driven society. Despite these challenges, many people flourish as they adapt to the new environment/system while maintaining their personal identity and integrity. As I reflected on the readings and my own experiences, I felt amazed by people’s resilience to adversity and determination to preserve their true selves. The book discussion was interesting as my classmates gave a great presentation on the relevant lessons that the readings aim to convey.
We then discussed the myths about aging and ways to debunk these misconceptions. As we are bombarded with distorted, unrepresentative images of elderly people, we become fearful of growing old, of losing our health, beauty, and vigor. Internalization of these negative age stereotypes not only undermines healthy aging in older adults but also widens the generational gap among different age groups. Since aging is not just about losing, it is important to recognize the many benefits we gain as we age so that we can embrace the natural process of aging. I am excited to work on this assignment and see my classmates’ completed projects as we have brainstormed and proposed many creative ways to present our facts about aging.
We then discussed the myths about aging and ways to debunk these misconceptions. As we are bombarded with distorted, unrepresentative images of elderly people, we become fearful of growing old, of losing our health, beauty, and vigor. Internalization of these negative age stereotypes not only undermines healthy aging in older adults but also widens the generational gap among different age groups. Since aging is not just about losing, it is important to recognize the many benefits we gain as we age so that we can embrace the natural process of aging. I am excited to work on this assignment and see my classmates’ completed projects as we have brainstormed and proposed many creative ways to present our facts about aging.