An Analysis of Societal Perspectives on the Old Age Experience

This essay delves into the multifaceted experience of old age from a societal perspective, examining the generation gap, cultural influences, and the challenges faced by aging populations. It explores how different cultures treat their elderly, highlighting the impact of history, tradition, and lifestyle on the lives of older individuals. The essay analyzes the conflicts that arise from differing opinions and lifestyles between generations, emphasizing the importance of understanding and a positive approach to change. The essay also discusses the challenges of differing opinions and lifestyles, the importance of a positive approach to change, and the value of experience. The essay draws on various sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic, offering insights into the complexities of aging within diverse societal contexts.

ESSAY

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
In present time, the old age society are playing a vast role in bringing the stability and cultural
growth among youth that help them to live life in better manner. Experience of old people is so
very much useful for this generation as nowadays people of age group between 18-40 have
totally lost their cultural values and there is huge gap among in their understanding, beliefs and
social life (Chabal, 2016). People of different place have number of dissimilarities and
similarities, there way of living is different because of the culture they belong to, and types of
situation they faces in their life. Thus, it is truly stated that experience and representation of
ageing people is an outcome of various factors that range from the micro to macro level, from
social to biological. It is also consider that level of education, gender, ethnicity, personal traits
and key personality are being also responsible to shape the experience of old age individual
living within a particular region. Culture and society can also influence our thoughts and
experiences around ageing as in number of different Western societies, the current notion of
‘ageing well’ believes independence and active contributions. In today’s era, younger generation
have also facing different kind of issues because of aging society as they have totally different
perception, understanding and belief to perform any work. It is observed that old age people put
pressure on their children and treats them in restricted manner, which irritates them, and there are
chances of conflicts.
MAIN BODY
The representation and experience of old age- In today's environment; there is a huge
generation gap between the old and young age people. Both have different opinions, views and
beliefs. As well as their lifestyles is also differs from each other. However, it is difficult for the
old age and young age people to manage the positive relation. So basically, it is about the
experience which old people feel in their old age. Additionally, in different countries old age
people have different experience and situation. This is why because of various culture. For
example if a person in UK, do not wants to live with the family then it is a common thing. On the
other hand, countries like India; it can become a huge concern. Therefore, old age people face
different experience as per their religion and culture (Cohen, 2015).
Such as in the UK, Australia and in many other countries their old age people face different
issues. So it depends on culture of society that how they treat with the old age people. In further,
1

their family, background, religion also affects to their lifestyle. In upcoming paragraphs, other
topics are discussed about the old and people’s experience.
How history relates with old ageing society- Different countries have various culture and
history as well as their old age group people (Tönnies, 2018). In the UK, there are a wide range
of people do not live with their families. Due to this, there becomes a separatism between the old
and young age group people. On the other hand, in the Asian countries an individual prefers to
live with the family, rather than separately. As well as old age people's experience is also,
depend on the culture. Like in the western countries, the history of an individual from birth to old
age can be categorised into multi-pal stages. In those countries in the early phase of the life an
individual prefers to live with the with family. As the age passes and an individual gets the job
and settle then do not want to live with the family. In that life phase, they want to live separate
from their parents and focuses on own families. So overall it is depends on the history of an
individual that way of growing, education, family and many other factors. Eventually, it can be
said that history is interlinked with the old ageing societies.
How old age people are treated in different countries- Eventually, the different countries have
various culture. The reason behind this is the old tradition, history etc. Such as in countries like
China and India, both the countries have different culture and due to this the old age people are
treated in different manner. In the India, people are known as to touch the feet of their parents
which shows the love and respect for them. As well as young age people also try to keep their
parents in comfort zone. So basically, in India old age people are treated with full of dignity
(Davis, 2015). On the other hand, in the China the child from the starting age informed that they
should not neglect or disrespect to the old people. Due to this the old age people, are being
treated with full of dignity as well as with respect. So basically, the culture of India and China is
similar. The old age people are being consider with full of respect. Though in China there is no
any culture of living in the joint family and in the India mostly people live in the joint family.
Culture of different places differ in different perspective:
The vital features, learning and knowledge about a specific group of individual
encompassing various language, cuisine, social habits, music, religion and arts is defines as
culture. It might different from region to region because of history and their preference about any
specific scenarios.
2

The western culture is related with cultural of European nation and other part, which are
impacted by EU such as United States. The old age people in Europe is not actually receive the
same treatment as they were treated in past this is because chaining culture. Such as earlier they
were used to live entire family or other those were utterly alone are given proper care into
hospital and residences that are managed by nuns. In recent time, as most of adult children are
engaged in jobs and are less involved or able to provide proper care to parent or old age member.
In southeast countries like Vietnam are very much attach with their old member and have a great
respect to their elder as they consider them as a carriers of knowledge, wisdom and tradition.
Most of the families in Vietnamese culture live their grandparents for care and support as they
are demanding jobs and grandparents usually care and prepare meals from their grandkid. Elder
are consider as the head of family and there decision are most valued in any context that help
these families to live together a happy life. Therefore, it is stated that old member are consider as
a valuable assets in fact of a liability of burden and they shift the perspective which support to
live and bring a long life that is pleasant in this culture (Fleming, 2017).
Thus it is stated that there is decision related with treatment of old age group vary
extremely in different culture such as some societies take valuable decision in order to keep their
elderly alive while the other group among different nation see older member of house as a
burden due to which there is end for their lives.
Experience of old age are different depended upon history
In busy world, the thinking of people are keeps on changing as they have number of mid
sets while dealing with different situation (Schaeffer, 2017). The thinking of old age group
people is totally different from those of younger generation as they have different part experience
which makes them to take tough situation in any respective case. It is the history of past events
and their dealing to these situations, which enable elder people to view world with clear and
descriptive way. Such as the old people in past are most likely to connected with their family
member and provide valuable thoughts and ideas to younger children and other family member
that support them to live life in meaningful manner.
They use to share their way of dealing any situation and gives essential feedback so that
these situation can be avoided by young generation. In different countries people faces several
kind of problem and tough situation, which helps them to learn new techniques and ways to sort
out future happening. For example, in past time people of America use to face tough situation
3

while doing any professional courses because in there early life they are more depended on
family member and parents. This past experience is now helping people as old age people do not
interfere in the life of younger generation which makes them more in-depended and take decision
that are more beneficial for them in future.
Therefore, it is past experiences and history of living of old age member are very much
essential for younger generation that support them to provide valuable guidelines and feedback
which make them live their life in more described manner. At the same time, there are some
drawback of these experiences as they use to provide guidelines according to their way of
dealing and now the living scenarios are totally changed due to which young people faces
problems (Hartwell, 2017).
Challenge of different opinions- In the context of new and old generation there are different
kind of conflicts and issues which arises due to different opinion and views. For example in a
family the old generation people think that all the members of family should sleep on time and
try to wake up early in morning. As well as they also have different thinking on various stages of
life. Due to this, young age person of family do not want to talk with oldies and it becomes a
serious issues. The old people start to think negative about the young generation. So overall the
changes of opinions become a serious issue for the both generation. Apart from it, this issue is
not an issue of any particular country (Newton and Lang, 2016). It is being an issue different
countries. Such as in Asian countries, there is a huge difference among the opinions of
generation.
To overcome from the issues like this, it is necessary that there should be a common
understanding between the different generation's people. Due to this they will understand about
each other situation and there would be better relation among old and young generation people.
Challenge of different lifestyle- This is also a major challenge between the old and
young and old generation. It is related with the different lifestyle of the people. For example the
old generation people thinks that younger should follow the traditional culture. On the other
hand, the young generation people do not want to follow the traditional culture. Such as they
wear the modern and stylish cloths as well as avoid the tradition dresses. Due to this old
generation people thinks that young generation are forgetting their actuality and culture. While
the young generation people thinks that they have freedom to choose their lifestyle.
4

Somehow, the old ageing group are right in some manner (Minow, 2017). This is why because
they are focusing to adopt the traditional culture which is a right thing. If young generation will
not follow their culture and tradition then it is possible that they will forget about their tradition.
So it can said that old generation people are right on their opinion. Though it is not that young
generation people are completely wrong, they can follow both the culture as per their perception
but they can not discard completely to the traditional culture otherwise it will be a major issue
for the dignity of country.
A positive approach to change: Number of option for a specific topic surrounds present
world and one should choose the best suitable that fit to the situation. People now days are
looking for the better option and ready to change according to the positive impact of that change
to their life. According to them change is the only repetitive action that happen again and again
and one are must adaptive to change which benefits them in number of manner. This is not the
same in viewed by old generation as they believes that adapting changes repeatedly reduces there
efficiency to perform any work (Positive approach to change, 2019). Old people have a mind set
to not make any change in their way to dealing situation, as it will have negative impact on their
life. They do want to change the action plans or applies new manner or methods of doing any
task, as it requires extra efforts and consume more time and money due to which working styles
get hampered and there are negative results. Young generation are more founded of planned
changes and make possible changes to their work that will deliver the same result of more in
specific period.
CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it has been concluded that experience and representations of old age
people are different across culture and history because of ethical values and standard of living,
which makes them different. People in different location gain knowledge and understanding
accordingly, which makes them assorted while taking valuable decision of life. Likewise, a
person in old age person in American nation are used to mostly live in care house or old age
house because they want to give a free space to their younger generation. This is because of
cultural value and surrounding as younger children after a certain age wants freedom and in
dependency as they think they are capable to make valuable decision of their life own their own.
On the other side culture, values in south east countries differ from those of European countries.
Therefore they treats their elder people with more prosperity and loving nature, as older people
5

of house are consider ad head of family and all crucial decision are made by them. This help to
develop a surrounding of happiness and children gained more valuable tactics to live difficult
situation of life in meaningful manner.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Chabal, P., 2016. Power in Africa: an essay in political interpretation. Springer.
Cohen, A., 2015. Two-dimensional man: An essay on the anthropology of power and symbolism
in complex society. Routledge.
Davis, J., 2015. People of the Mediterranean: an essay in comparative social anthropology.
Routledge.
Fleming, J. V., 2017. From Bonaventure to Bellini: an essay in Franciscan exegesis. Princeton
University Press.
Hartwell, R. M., 2017. The Causes of the Industrial Revolution: I An Essay in Methodology 1.
In The Industrial Revolution and Economic Growth (pp. 131-157). Routledge.
Minow, M., 2017. Interpreting rights: an essay for Robert Cover. In Theoretical and Empirical
Studies of Rights (pp. 155-210). Routledge.
Newton, P. M. and Lang, C., 2016. Custom essay writers, freelancers, and other paid third
parties. Handbook of academic integrity, pp.249-271.
Schaeffer, P., 2017. Treatise on Musical Objects: An Essay Across Disciplines (Vol. 20). Univ of
California Press.
Tönnies, F., 2018. Custom: An essay on social codes. In Custom (pp. 33-108). Routledge.
Online
Positive approach to change. 2019. [Online] Available Through:
<https://view.ingwb.com/challenges-and-opportunities-of-an-ageing-society>.
6

7