A mission to break stereotypes

A Chinese Professor is on a quest to break the stereotypes surrounding ageing, stating seniors should not be seen as people who simply “eat, sleep and wait to die”.

Professor Tsang Kuo-jen of the National Chengchi University is now compiling a book he hopes will break the myth that ageing people generally lead “dim and miserable lives”.

He says with the number of ageing people increasing, the issues of long-term care and social welfare have “gradually drawn attention”; but believes discussion of those issues have suffered because of the stereotypes associated with this group.

Professor Kuo-jen, who has studied communication and ageing for a decade, says seniors are often considered “third-class citizens” who live inactive lives, dwell on the past, and cannot adapt to modern technology.

However, these misconceptions cannot be more untrue, according to Professor Kuo-jen, who says some senior citizens have actually learned to create their own blogs with the popularisation of the Internet.

“Some might think older people will only reminisce about their pasts in their blogs, but in fact, many use them to share what is going on in their lives now, ranging from travel experiences to their moods, much the same as young people,” he says.

He claims many seniors were frustrated when they first used computers because they were not good at using a mouse or keyboard, but Professor Kuo-jen adds the arrival of the “tablet computer”, which is essentially a small laptop computer, equipped with a rotatable touchscreen, has helped to dispel initial thoughts.

He recalls meeting an elderly male inpatient at a hospital who was given a tablet computer by his son and was using it to watch a movie. “The scientific advance gave the man a chance to overcome technological hurdles. A study of the elderly man is a study of one’s future self,” Professor Kuo-jen says.

To help the public better understand the elderly and break down stereotypes they may face, Professor Kuo-jen is planning to compile his research from the past decade into a book.

“I hope the book will be a starting point that will lead the public to have a deeper understanding on diminishing stereotypes in older people,” he says.

What are your thoughts on the stereotypes people aged 65 years and older face? Share your opinions in the comment box below.