I am rerunning a previous post about aging and ageism as it continues to be an issue, especially in light of recent events. During the Academy Awards show, I’m sure more than one person made the observation that the screw-up at the end, with the incorrect Best Picture being read by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, was the result of an older actor’s inability to read the card correctly. Or how about Harrison Ford’s recent near-miss while landing his airplane. Were you ready to put him out to pasture, blaming his age for his mistake? Read on, this from a few years ago when I was a mere 65…
Lately I have been feeling that my life can be described as, “The years of living invisibly.” Having reached the age of 65, I seem to have fallen into a generalized abyss of generations that are no longer taken seriously.
The other day I was filling out a survey and, when asked for age, the choice after “55-64” was “65 and older”…huh? I am being lumped in with those aged 75, 85 and 95? Unless you are filling out a questionnaire about Depends or dementia, it appears that your opinion is not valued after a certain birthday. Mick Jagger just turned 71, should he be thrown into a generic over-65 category?
Courtesy Sun Sentinel
Yes, I am 65 years old and my mother will turn 89 next week. We are of two separate generations. Yet, we are being grouped together as if we are of one mind. This survey tactic makes me wonder if the evaluators just don’t care about the opinions of those over 65 because they think they have us figured out and we are not a marketable cohort. The other day I saw a news report describing a 69 year old woman as “elderly.” Excuse me!?!?! Are you going to describe Debbie Harry, of Blondie, also 69 years of age, as elderly? She’d probably flash one of her fingers at you and it wouldn’t be the pointer!
Perhaps one hundred years ago, a typical woman in her seventh decade might be content to sit in her rocking chair on a porch and knit, read books or just contemplate the bird feeder. But, in this day and age, 65 wears a new face. In many cases we have reinvented ourselves, taking on new careers or active volunteer opportunities, starting new businesses or learning new skills.
All of a sudden we find ourselves in yet another decade but we are not slowing down. My mother is still shopping for shoes, eating out and taking in movies. Albeit, she might need more help getting there but she is still a viable consumer. Of course, our needs and wants are different, with over twenty years separating our ages. So, why do those marketing agencies which develop said surveys, use the strategy that 65 and up are all the same and no longer matter?
Maybe next time I’ll just lie and check off a different number. If I’m feeling 30ish, that will be the age of choice. On a day when the 65 year old joints are aching I might respond more truthfully. I wonder what Debbie Harry would do!
Courtesy Jamie McCarthy Hartford Courant