Agingism: intersectionalities of class, gender/sexuality and race/ethnicity

Abstract

The literature on aging does not present a uniform view of the social image of old age. In modern societies, with the advent of the capitalist mode of production, the elderly person has a social image connected to the non-productive and obsolete, causing devaluation, prejudice, and stereotypes, such as old age. The purpose of this article is to problematize these universalisms. Thus, from the intertwining of social class, gender/sexuality and race/ethnicity, point out the highest incidences of inequalities in the elderly, that is, verify whether the crossing of these demarcators can intensify the prejudices that already exist within society. This study originated from a theoretical research, based on literature, with a qualitative methodology and intentional choice of literature to meet the raised objective. It is concluded that class struggle, skin color, ethnicity, sexuality and age have implications on the way of experiencing and suffering from old age, including intensifying processes of exclusion, oppression and social inequalities.