Running head: AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES?

Ageism practiced in UTEP Colleges?

Brandon J. Arellano

RWS 1301
AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 2

Abstract

The conducted research discovered no possible connections with UTEP’s colleges and

discrimination against the elderly as well as practices in society. No connection was made first

hand within my Global Business class, Adding to my means of research; a monogram, articles,

and studies. The sources gave me a deep analysis of how discrimination of old people has

impacted society, laws were passed to prevent it in the workplace. Ageism is described to be

“one of the most socially-condoned and institutionalized forms of prejudice. Society has

transformed from holding elders in high regards to ridiculing and disrespecting them.
AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 3

Ageism practiced in UTEP Colleges?

There is no evidence of ageism practiced in UTEP, according to the universities’

newspaper, The Prospector, a report of age discrimination was Filed in the 70’s; Statements were

made by Older students who felt as if they were being excluded from class discussions because

of their older appearance. The Students confronted their professors and asked what the problem

was but were greeted with a civil answer since there was no tension as the professors had no care

for their personal lives. Looking at this crucial topic there were no established connections with

Ageism and the UTEP Colleges, practices do not exist in the academic communities rather than a

normal community.

Ageism Does not exist in Universities

Practices of ageism are usually reported in the workforce more than they are reported in

Elderly Homes, Hospitals, etc. Society has normalized the practice of ageism as it is argued a

part of the normative order of American Society (Holmes, 2007). According to The Prospector

article about Ageism was written by Brenda Priegel that dates to the ‘70s, while there has been

hostility between the older students and professors regard them as very serious hard workers who

are more experienced. In College students focus on bettering themselves, it is not like high

school anymore it is the real world.

Many reports of age discrimination are more likely to stem from Jobs than anywhere,

Laws have been passed in order to stop these practices such as the Age Discrimination in

Employment of 1967. This act was passed to prohibit the discrimination of persons 40 years or

older in the workplace, some elders were denied health benefits and training opportunities based

on their age. According to the According to the law review, the study revealed that age

discrimination is based on erroneous assumptions about the effects of age on ability used by
AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 4

businesses out of mere concern for their economic efficiency (Harvard Law Review, 90(2), 380-

411, 1976); (Santora & Seaton, 2008). As seen in image 1.

We’re taught wrong

There seems to be a problem with our public schools as they never teach us how to grow

old or learn how to coexist between young and old (Holmes, 2007). Ageism is passed

down from generation to generation through the process of socialization. According to

Holmes from a young age the education systems failed to teach about learning to grow

old or how to live when we become old. He stresses that it is imperative that we see one

another as part of the wholeness of human experience. Ageism leads to self-destructive

and asocial behaviors, and supposedly it is passed down from generation to generation,

through the process of socialization. According to the Canadian Journal of Public Health,

a journal article provided information of surveys done by the authors as they questioned

High School and College students about basic questions about aging and age. The

students overestimated the proportions of older people with cognitive and physical

illness, and magnitude of normal age changes. The research revealed that students were

hardly given any information of aging and elderly people during their school careers.

Which proves how our education systems fail to inform students about later life. (Stones,

M. J., & Stones, L., 1997)

We all are afraid of aging.

Nowadays society has conveyed this message that youth is beauty. There clearly is a fear

amongst society of growing old as Society is clearly emphasizing that getting old is bad
AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 5

(Nelson, 2005) Age discrimination is highly overlooked. (Nelson, 2005) Ageism is a

quiet epidemic as there really is no movements targeted to end it, every day we usually

encounter it unknowingly, advertisements in the media always depict this entourage that

youth is beauty. Each year approximately 90 million Americans purchase or undergo

procedures that hide physical signs of aging according to recent surveys. (Nelson, 2005)

Society has had little to no success in eradicating the ageism epidemic (Stones, 1997).

Cruikshank argues that in order to learn how to age healthy it is important to maintain the

key to mindful aging: the ability to think critically and have self-reliance. In order to stop

practices, we must adopt positive attitudes about aging and the aging process, Although

learning to be old may be difficult, living a healthy life has a great amount of influence

on the aging process as it helps with esteem (Cruikshank, 2013) ;(Holmes, 2007)
AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 6

References

The age discrimination in employment act of 1967. (1976). Harvard Law Review, 90(2), 380-

411. doi:10.2307/1340159

CRUIKSHANK, M. (2010). Ageism and late-life choices. Final acts (pp. 288-300) Rutgers

University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt19rmc3q.24

Elder abuse: Practice and policy (1989). In Filinson R., &Ingman S R.(Eds.), . 233 Spring Street

New York, NY 10013-1578 United States of America: Human Sciences Press.

Gunnarsson, B. (1997). Women and men in the academic discourse community. Communicating

Gender in Context, , 219-248.

HOLMES, G. G. (2007). Hidden in plain sight: The problem of ageism in public

schools. Counterpoints, 315, 69-84.

Martens, A., Goldenberg, J. L., & Greenberg, J. (2005). A terror management perspective on

ageism. Journal of Social Issues, 61(2), 223-239. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00403.x

Minichiello, V., Browne, J., & Kendig, H. (2012). Perceptions of ageism:; views of older

people. Adult lives (1st ed., pp. 332-340) Policy Press at the University of Bristol. Retrieved

from http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1t895q0.40

Nelson, T. D. (2005). Ageism: Prejudice against our feared future self. Journal of Social

Issues, 61(2), 207-221. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2005.00402.x

AGEISM PRACTICED IN UTEP COLLEGES? 7

Santora, J. C., & Seaton, W. J. (2008). Age discrimination: Alive and well in the

workplace? Academy of Management Perspectives, 22(2), 103-104.

Stones, M. J., & Stones, L. (1997). Ageism: The quiet epidemic. Canadian Journal of Public

Health / Revue Canadienne De Sante'e Publique, 88(5), 293-294.

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Tables

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Column Head Column Head Column Head Column Head Column Head
Row Head 123 123 123 123
Row Head 456 456 456 456
Row Head 789 789 789 789
Row Head 123 123 123 123
Row Head 456 456 456 456
Row Head 789 789 789 789

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