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‘My opinion is that doctors prefer younger people’: older women, physicians and ageism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2016

HAZEL MACRAE
HAZEL MACRAE*
Affiliation:
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Canada.
*
Address for correspondence: Hazel MacRae, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3M 2J6, Canada E-mail: Hazel.MacRae@msvu.ca
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Abstract

This study examines older women's views about and subjective experience of ageism during interactions with physicians. Views about and experience of sexism are also examined. Data were obtained from in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted with 36 Canadian women 55 years and older. The findings indicate that older women believe ageism is likely to occur during medical encounters and are concerned about it. Few, however, claim to have personally experienced it. Contradicting the stereotype of the passive older patient, many participants were employing strategies to avoid becoming targets of ageism. Although there was some concern about sexism during medical encounters, in general, the women appeared to be less conscious of sexism than ageism.

Keywords

ageismolder womenphysicianssexism
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , February 2018 , pp. 240 - 266
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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