Society often views older people as frail, weak, and dependent on others for care. That can be true for older individuals who have broken a bone or taken a fall and need some extra help. There’s also the cognitive decline and memory loss that people associate with old age, however, that’s not entirely true. Everyone, young or old, has their moments where they forget things, lie where their keys are or where they parked their car. But, memory loss with old age is usually due to environmental or genetic factors, like dementia, which not every older individual will have. Another major negative stereotype is that older people have a bit of technological ineptitude, and are not willing to learn new things when it comes to evolving technology. I’m 22 years old and I know close to nothing about technology; I feel like I’m always struggling to keep up with the newest technology fad. But, the media likes to portray older people as unable to adapt to an evolving tech-world, which is unfair, because it IS important to note that the way we grew up is not the same way our grandparents grew up, and technology is a whole new realm for them. Finally, there’s the stereotype that older people are “a burden on society” and “drain resources that could be used for younger people”. That negative idea makes me the most angry, because again, depending on how you live your life and what your health history and genetics are, some older people may be more healthy than others, and the ones that need help shouldn’t be shamed or bashed for wanting to live. If a younger person was told that they are a burden on society because of a health condition they couldn’t control, I’m sure they’d be pretty mad, so it’s not fair to say the same about older people who are just trying to prioritize their health.

Though not as prominent, there are some emerging positive portrayals of older people in the media and society. For instance, I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying that the older you are, the wiser you are, and that if you’re looking for someone to talk to about your experiences or troubles, then you should go to your grandparents because they’ve “likely lived through it all”. This is a nice way to approach the older population because in my experience, that saying holds very true. My grandparents have taught me some very valuable life lessons based on what they’ve learned and experienced in the world. I like hearing their wisdom and guidance and I value what they say because it’s coming from a place of love, and I can’t appreciate that enough. Another cool thing to see in the media is that brands and ad campaigns are starting to feature older models. They are celebrating their beauty through the aging process and recognizing the economic power of older consumers. Finally, there are some representations of older adults as being very vibrant, healthy and active. They can be seen engaging in a variety of hobbies, travelling, and being very social. While this is the ideal scenario for most older adults, and can promote a healthy way of living, it can also be slightly unrealistic because again, depending on your health and genetics, not everything mentioned can be attainable for an individual, and may leave them feeling worse about themselves.

Participating in sport allows older adults to acknowledge the physical realities of aging. This means slower recovery times, reduced mobility, and decreased strength. But by participating in sport and physical activity, it might be easier for older individuals to come to terms with these changes in an empowering way, rather than fearing them. It helps to support the mindset of “aging well” rather than avoiding aging altogether.

Simultaneously, sport also gives the older population a way to push back against the negative stereotypes around aging. For instance, the stereotype that older people should be passive, frail or disengaged. By remaining active, competitive, and having goals in mind, they can resist the cultural expectations of age-related decline. When looking at it this way, sport becomes a form of social and personal resistance to ageism.

Acceptance and resistance is important because it helps to show that aging isn’t just a biological fact, but a social experience that can be shaped or molded however the individual desires. Sport can be a meaningful way for older individuals to alter their identities, retain their autonomy, and maintain a certain purpose as they age.

First, are older adults with a lower socioeconomic status (SES). Financial barriers like gym fees, equipment, and transportation often play a huge factor in limiting participation. There is also a lack of access to safe, age-appropriate facilities in these lower-income communities.

Next, are women; particularly older women. They often face a lot more societal pressure than men around “age-appropriate” behaviour. There aren’t as many sport and fitness programs that are targeted towards aging women.

Also, older adults who are chronically ill or disabled don’t have as many opportunities as more able-bodied individuals do. Many sports aren’t structured or designed to accommodate people with physical limitations, and it’s honestly not fair.

Finally, racial and ethnic minorities often face some intersecting barriers like systemic racism,economic disadvantage and cultural exclusion in sport spaces.

Overall, I think it’s unkind and not fair to not include or be catering to an individual’s needs for access to sport, especially when it comes to things that someone can’t control, like the ones listed above. Sports are so fun, and everyone should have equal opportunities to participate without being left out.

Privilege shapes how people age in and through sport. Those who have more money, better health, time, education and access to supportive environments are more likely to stay fit and age “successfully”, continue to participate in sports for longer, and be celebrated for “defying age” rather than being penalized.

Elizabeth Pike critiques how the idea of “successful aging” through sport is often showcased as an individual achievement, when in reality, it is influenced by structural advantages. Not all aging bodies are treated equally, and the systems set in place reward the people who are privileged enough to have access to sport, health, money, etc.

First, is the fact that if you are lucky to live long enough, you will experience the aging process. Ideally, everyone does. It’s something that everyone goes through and can be an easy target. Going off of that, seeing as everyone ages, it’s seen as more socially acceptable to make jokes and say hurtful things in passing because of that reason exactly: everyone ages, so it “shouldn’t be surprising” if someone makes a comment about your age. Another huge one is age and healthcare disparities. Older adults may face some discrimination in healthcare and have their problems or issues dismissed as “just old age”, even though it could be something completely unrelated. Lastly, as the older population grows, the awareness of ageism as a social issue may increase, which can cause people to reflect on their own experiences and report what they’ve been through.

I touched on this previously, but there are a few reasons why older people are often presented as a “threat” to social values and interests. They are negatively portrayed as a burden to society; for example consuming resources without contributing, like healthcare. I feel like people forget that older people worked their entire lives to reach a spot of happiness and retirement, and they are entitled to whatever they need, especially healthcare needs. They are also often seen as hesitant to change as the world changes around them, which can lead them to be viewed as “holding society back”. Again, this isn’t fair because young, old, or anywhere in between: nobody likes change; definitely not at first anyways. It takes a while to adjust to new things, and when technology is involved, something that older populations didn’t have when they were my age for example, it’s even harder because technology is constantly changing. There are many people out there who have a fear of getting older and dying, I know I have a huge fear of dying. But for some people, it gets way too out of hand, and they find themselves projecting this fear onto older adults, which leads to negative perceptions of aging and this desire to distance away from the aging process. I feel like it’s natural to be scared of aging and dying. But it’s also important to remember that it’s not something you can change; you have to accept that just like anyone else, you’ve aged, and you continue to age every day. Projecting these fears onto the older populations, especially those who are in their 80s or 90s, is extremely harmful and doesn’t change what you are going through.

Ageism and negative stereotypes have damaging consequences to society as a whole, and it’s important to recognize your fears and deal with them yourself instead of dumping them onto other people.

“Feminization of Aging” involves demographic and social feminization. Statistically, women live longer than men in most parts of the world, and as a result, the older population tends to be disproportionately female. The discussion on aging when it comes to women is often centered on appearance, health, and caregiving. If you notice, there are a lot of products that are tailored specifically for aging women, like anti-aging serums, or panty liners for women who experience bladder leaks as they get older. There’s this idea that older women need to maintain youthfulness, look a certain way, and keep certain aging aspects of their lives to themselves. Whereas with men, they’re more likely to be seen as wise, distinguished, or a “handsome silver fox”.

In the world of Hollywood, these ideals make sense because women are told to do whatever they can to remain youthful, whereas men are almost “allowed” to age naturally. For health and social care, it’s often women who are providing care and women who are receiving it because they typically outlive men. Because women usually outlive men, they also face challenges like becoming a widow, dealing with economic insecurity, and even social isolation.

Overall, I agree with the idea that aging has become “feminized” because of the trends I shared above. But it’s also important to recognize that just because agining is seen as feminized, doesn’ mean it’s seen as feminine empowerment. To me, it’s seen as inequality, poor expectations with gender, and vulnerability. And why aren’t we questioning the aging process for men? Why is it okay for them to age and not us?

Using the Pike article in Section One as a reference, analyze popular depictions/discussions/critiques of pickleball as a “sport trend” that has proved enormously appealing to older segments of the population.

In recent years, pickleball has become increasingly popular as a sport among older adults. It’s seen as a quirky, low-impact sport which makes it perfectly suited for retired individuals. When thinking about some of Elizabeth Pike’s insights on ageism, active aging, and privilege, there are some depictions that present themselves.

First, the idea that “successful aging” entails that adults should stay active, live a healthy life, and be productive, in order to be seen as aging “well”. Pickleball fits this idea almost perfectly because it’s promoted as being a fun, social and fitness-oriented sport that older adults can take up in their spare time to remain healthy and youthful. The sport is celebrated in ways that reinforce the ideal “fit” senior: one who has accessibility to the sport, time and mobility to participate. But, again, even though this is empowering, it can be harmful because it marginalizes people who can’t participate because of accessibility, mobility and time, and negatively reinforces the idea of good versus bad aging.

Second, is that there is a site of resistance, where older adults push back against the negative stereotypes of decline and frailty. Pickleball players are often older, retired individuals who are competitive, agile, and socially vibrant, and these parts of them help to defy these stereotypes about the aging population. The sport allows older adults to reclaim their physicality and visibility with the media, which challenges the idea that sport is only for the young. It creates a sense of purpose and community.

Third, is the feminization of aging; that women live longer than men and are more likely to participate in age-appropriate physical activity. Pickleball has been praised for its inclusivity and has mixed-gendered groups, and is seen as gentle and friendly, making it “acceptable for women”. While this can be comforting, it reinforces gender norms that sports need to be seen as gentle and low-impact for women to participate, and intense and high-impact for men to participate. Pike says that we should consider whether Pickleball empowers older women, or if it just offers a more socially acceptable outlet for them to stay active in these gender roles.

Finally, Elizabeth Pike talks about how privilege plays a critical role in who gets to age actively through sport. Pickleball is usually played and accessible towards suburban areas and to people within the middle-to-upper class areas. Even though the sport is marketed as inclusive, there are many older adults who may not be able to participate because of costs, transportation issues, health problems, etc.

This popular sport for older adults can be both empowering AND limiting, but it’s dependent on who it’s accessible to and who it’s targeted towards.  When considering Pike’s views and takes on the matter, we need to consider that it’s not just a hobby, but it has ties to age, ability, and equity for sport.