Agewise: Fighting the New Ageism in America

In this book cultural critic the author reveals that much of what we dread about aging is actually the result of ageism-which we can battle as strongly as we do racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry. Drawing on provocative and under-reported evidence from biomedicine, literature, economics, and personal stories, Gullette probes the ageism that drives discontent with our bodies, our selves, and our accomplishments-and makes us easy prey for marketers who want to sell us an illusory vision of youthful perfection. Even worse, ageism causes society to discount the wisdom and experience acquired by people over the course of adulthood. The costs of this culture of decline are almost incalculable, diminishing our workforce, robbing younger people of hope for a decent later life, and eroding the satisfactions and sense of productivity that should animate our later years. Once we open our eyes to the pervasiveness of ageism we can begin to fight it.