The seductiveness of agelessness
Abstract
In recent years, many researchers in the study of ageing have adopted a terminology of ‘agelessness’. They argue that old age is nothing more than a social construct and that until it is eliminated as a conceptual category, ageism will continue to flourish. This article challenges this view, stating that the current tendency towards ‘agelessness’ is itself a form of ageism, depriving the old of one of their most hard-earned resources: their age. Specific theories of ageing (successful ageing, mask of ageing, continuity theory) are assessed in this light, and original data are presented as evidence of old age as a unique phase of the lifecycle replete with continued developmental possibilities.
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Age inequality is featured in critical gerontology, an area that developed in the 1980s in reaction to positivism's dominance and its increasing tilt toward a biomedical view of aging.
“Age inequality also is featured in critical gerontology, an area that developed in the 1980s in reaction both to positivism's dominance in the field and to its increasing tilt toward a biomedical view of aging (e.g., Andrews 1999, Cole et al. 1993, Estes 1979, Laws 1995, Phillipson 1998, Wellin 2018).”
From Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework (2022) · cites this paper as Andrews 1999
Color blindness and agelessness both center on the idea that inequality can be eradicated by refusing to acknowledge the existence of social categories, and both are undermined by their denials of inequality and individuals' experiences of it.
“Both approaches center on the seductively simple idea that inequality can be eradicated by refusing to acknowledge the existence of social categories, but both are undermined by their denials of inequality and individuals' experiences of it.”
From Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework (2022) · cites this paper as Andrews 1999
Scholarship emphasizes the ageism underlying the cultural celebration of youthful identities.
“as well as scholarship emphasizing the ageism underlying the cultural celebration of youthful identities (e.g., Andrews 1999, Biggs 1997, Gullette 2004).”
From Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework (2022) · cites this paper as Andrews 1999
Critical gerontology draws links between age identity and age inequality more clearly than other approaches.
“Age identity's links to age inequality are drawn more clearly in critical gerontology.”
From Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework (2022) · cites this paper as Andrews 1999
The current tendency towards 'agelessness' is itself a form of ageism, depriving older people of their age as a hard-earned resource.
“the current tendency towards 'agelessness' is itself a form of ageism, depriving the old of one of their most hard-earned resources: their age.”
From Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework (2022) · cites this paper as Andrews 1999
Cited by
Sorted by citations
The influence of subjective aging on health and longevity: a meta-analysis of longitudinal data
Westerhof, G. J., Miche, M., Brothers, A. F., Barrett, A. E., Diehl, M., Montepare, J. M., Wahl, H.-W., & Wurm, S. (2014) · Psychology and Aging · doi:10.1037/a0038016 · Cited by 403 · see citing works
Ethical frontiers of ICT and older users: cultural, pragmatic and ethical issues
McLean, A. (2011) · Ethics and Information Technology · doi:10.1007/s10676-011-9276-4 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Centering Age Inequality: Developing a Sociology-of-Age Framework
Barrett, A. E. (2022) · Annual Review of Sociology · doi:10.1146/annurev-soc-083121-043741 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
- Authors
- ANDREWS, M.
- Affiliations
- University of East London (GB)
- Corresponding author
- ANDREWS, MOLLY
- ORCID
- ANDREWS, MOLLY
- Venue
- Ageing and Society
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 1999-05
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 301-318
- ISSN
- 0144-686X (ISSN-L)
- 1469-1779
- OpenAlex
- W1988283884
- Cited by
- 265
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 5.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Ageing and Society (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Social Sciences › Demography › Retirement, Disability, and Employment
- Keywords
- agelessness, ageism, old age, successful aging, continuity theory
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