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The seductiveness of agelessness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 1999

MOLLY ANDREWS
MOLLY ANDREWS
Affiliation:
Department of Human Relations, University of East London
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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.

Keywords

old ageageismagelessnesslife-span development
Type
Research Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 19 , Issue 3 , May 1999 , pp. 301 - 318
Copyright
© 1999 Cambridge University Press

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