Culturally speaking, America adheres to a dismal view of aging. This attitude is reflected very clearly in society through the media, employment, and health care of older adults. American society is bombarded daily with magazine and television ads depicting older adults in a negative, declining state of existence. There are products claiming to reduce wrinkles and retain youthfulness painting aging as undesirable. Ads target the negative aspects of aging and give nothing back to the other more important aspects of developing beyond middle adulthood, such as wisdom and experience. Employability for older adults also declines and a person’s value is no longer is based on experience and ability but on age. Older adults in Americ

Other cultures take a different approach to aging and the value of their older adults within society. In Japanese culture, old age signifies status, a man celebrating his sixtieth birthday would wear a red vest, symbolizing rebirth into an advanced phase of life (Kimmel, 1988-text, pg 15). The !Kung tribe in the Kalahari Desert do not count the number of years a person has been alive. To the members of this culture age is useless information (text, pg 13). Clearly, societies view has a direct affect on how aging adults are viewed and shape an individuals ideals and stereotypes of aging.

America’s negative views of aging do not reflect my own. I plan on staying active for as long as I am able to. Adaptability is the key. Of course, the body slows down but the mind will become sharper. I want to continue to contribute to society. I appreciated the article in the text on Betty Friedan. She kept her mind young and active thus I believe aiding in her physical youthfulness. At this stage of young adulthood, I have a very positive outlook on aging and what I want to be doing in middle and late adulthood. Although there are circumstances that occur beyond one’s control, I adhere to the belief that aging is largely in the mind. The way a person views growing older and their potential role in society greatly affect how productive and useful they will be in the later years of their life. Late adulthood to me means drawing from life experiences and the wisdom gained from these events and passing them on to future generations. Although I will eventually retire, I plan on becoming involved fully into areas such as animal and child activism that I may not have time to accomplish in my young and middle adult years. In my life, I have been fortunate enough to grow up in a fam

Some topics in this essay:
, According American, Kalahari Desert, Betty Friedan, chronological age, text 17, views aging, adult development, 5 key principles, ideals stereotypes aging, stereotypes aging, text 5, increasing age, increasing age brings, key principles, aging adults, age brings,