Why don’t older people want to talk about ageing? Is there really a lack of people willing to talk about older people and ageing? That is, compared to other interest groups. Or is it part of the general stereotyping or prejudice that a new report has highlighted? How can we shape the perceptions of ageing in the media? And what should journalists do?
“It is vital that older people are humanised and valued in mainstream culture, with their voices amplified, and the issues they face told in an accurate and balanced way.” Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner
Although the Human Rights Commission’s report is about older people, ageism can happen at any age. Young people are just as likely to experience ageism as well. Demographers and marketers divide the population into segments, which isn’t helpful especially when assigning specific characteristics to each group.
The executive summary of the Human Rights Commission’s report begins with a good explanation of ageism:
“Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) directed towards people based simply on their age. Ageism remains pervasive and normalised … it is one of the most socially accepted forms of prejudice in Australia.”
The media shapes perceptions
Demographers and marketers aside, the media plays an important role in reflecting and shaping how older people are perceived. Finding appropriate experts to talk about older people, and not just ageism, is key. But they have to be aware of their own stereotyping too.
The late Stella Young called out “inspiration porn” for people with disability. We must do the same for older people. Anything that a younger person can do should not become an inspirational story when an older person does it. It might be a human interest story for the media but it reinforces stereotypes albeit positive.
Conversely, older people are more often portrayed as a burden on society. Stories reflect the deficit model of inability, incapacity and vulnerability. Terms such as “the elderly” immediately stereotype everyone over a certain age as all being the same. However, the term “elderly” should not be confused with respectful term “elders” used in Indigenous communities.
Three opportunities for action
No experts: The reports suggests the media and the age sectors should get together to address the expert and advocate gap. Reshaping the narrative on ageing is a must.
Training: The best way to address the gap in media education and training is by the media co-designing training with advocates of older people. The age sector can also support and inform editorial practices on age-related reporting.
Community education: A communication campaign for the broader community is another key opportunity for change. More accurate and diverse representation of ageing as well as the coverage of different age groups is essential.
The title of the report is, Shaping Perceptions: How Australian Media Reports on Ageing (2024). You can download the full report of 46 pages, or the Summary report from the Human Rights Commissison web page.
The full report has some interesting and revealing comments by journalists, producers and editors. Their take on the subject of the lack of experts able to speak to the media is especially enlightening.
Equal access to sex workers
Almost everyone likes a hug, and sometimes something a little more intimate. The Conversation has an article arguing that the NDIS should pay for sex workers. But being a resident in an aged care home should not be a barrier to having this kind of intimacy either. That’s whether it’s from a sex worker or a partner.
An article in the Australian Ageing Agenda, Addressing sexual intimacy, looks at the issues. “Aged care providers are ‘ill-equipped’ to deal with matters of sex and sexuality.”
Sex work in aged care more than just physical. For some clients of sex workers it is about being close and touching another human being rather than sexual intimacy. It’s about feeling the warmth of another body, feeling their heartbeat and breathing.
The royal commission into aged care also commented that services aren’t acceptable for older LGBTI people either. Some staff and other residents find same sex relationships confronting.
When it comes down to it, older people have the right to access sex and intimacy services just like anyone else. However, those who live in their own homes might be in a better position than those in an aged care facility. Time for policies on this aspect of aged care to be universally designed.