Perceptions and Experiences of Elderly People on Discrimination in Old Age

Abstract

This study investigated how the elderly perceive and experience discrimination in old age. Participated in this research 27 elderly people, aged between 63 and 88 years old. For that, an identification form was used, the Teste de Associação Livre de Palavras (TALP) - using "old age" as the inducing word - and a semi-structured interview. The TALP analysis relied on the use of the IRaMuTeQ software. For the interviews, a content analysis was used from which three categories emerged: characteristics and stereotypes about old age; experiences of discrimination in old age; and new possibilities and positive assessment of old age. The results suggest that the elderly perceive old age permeated by negative stereotypes and often internalize negative feelings for being part of a socially devalued social group. In addition, there was a naturalization of prejudice against old age and a difficulty for the elderly to identify prejudiced content. The elderly in this research recognize that there is prejudice, but they feel the difficulty of recognizing that they are directly affected by prejudice and discrimination.