We Interrupt This Program To Bring You… An Analysis of

the Effects of Television on College Students’ Perceptions

of AgingCaroline Westbrook

Purpose

To understand if there are gender differences among college students with regards to ageist feelings and stereotypes towards the elder population especially as they are portrayed in the media, specifically television.

Hypotheses

•Women are MORE ageist.• People who have taken an aging studies course are LESS ageist.• People who have worked with older adults are LESS ageist.• People who watch more television have are MORE ageist.

Why care?Attitudes toward the elderly are a prominent

sociological issue in our society. Interpersonal

relationships amongst the younger population and the

elder population present a reciprocal effect on both

cohorts. Both demographics

would benefit in a better

knowledge of the perceptions

that exist about aging and

treatment toward the older

adult population.

What did the experts say?• “Older people are underrepresented in

commercials and when they are featured, they

are portrayed as “young-old” (rarely bald or

wrinkled). When portrayed as characters, they

are given nondescript roles. Only 1% of television

portrayals provide an overt positive view of being

old.” (Scwalkb and Sedlack 1990)

• The general consensus among the authors of the

literature on this topic is that age has a different

social meaning for men and women.

Sample• 151 self administered paper and pencil

surveys distributed to a random sample of Ithaca College students in main areas on the campus (Campus Center & the library)

At what age do you consider someone to be old?

Attitudes Toward Older Adults (Operationalizing Ageism)

Attitudes Toward Older Adults (Operationalizing Ageism*Gender)

Does education affect ageism? (Operationalizing Ageism)

Does interaction with an elder affect ageism? (Operationalizing Ageism)

Does Watching Television Affect Ageism? (Operationalizing Ageism)

So what?• Male college students have more ageist feelings

toward the elderly and have a more stereotypical outlook on the elder population than females.

Questions for Discussion

• Why do you think that male college students have more ageist feelings toward the elderly and have a more stereotypical outlook on the elder population than females?

Conclusions & Limitations