Review

Rethinking ageism

AGEISM
Bill Bytheway
Open University Press, 1995, £13.99

Bill Bytheway’s short book is in the Open University’s Rethinking Ageing series, which aims to provide a greater understanding of issues which should concern professionals, voluntary workers and others involved in caring for ‘older people’.

I believe it would be a useful addition to reading lists for first level students in sociology generally, as well as for health-related studies, as an aid to teaching in schools and, being a very uncomplicated read, the lay reader would not go amiss if they chose this book from a library shelf.

From this you will gather that I was quite impressed with Bytheway’s work. It appears to approach the subject from no one particular ideological angle, yet derides ageism itself — like sexism and racism — as ‘an ideology upon which dominant groups — state, employers, hospitals, media etc — justify and maintain not just the inequalities between age groups but also the belief that these age groups exist and are different’.

He later concludes that it would be a fundamental mistake to equate ageism with a patronizing ‘aren’t elderly people all wonderful’ approach. By contrast, it is a mistake that some charities advertise for resources by using posters which portray elderly people as helpless, as Help the Aged often appear to; although this does appear to help them fill their coffers!

So, ageism is with us, and it appears difficult to find a balanced way to portray the elderly. Compare the divergent methods used by the two charities Help the Aged and Age Concern in their campaigns, and you will appreciate the dilemma.

Bytheway’s book is divided into three parts. Part I discusses the history and the literature of ageism, and from the beginning confronts gerontology itself by suggesting that it may reinforce rather than challenge ageism. In Part II he concentrates on aspects like power, language and organisation, and relates them to the areas of health, social welfare, housing and poverty. Bytheway concludes in Part III by drawing together some of the themes of the book, in his words he ‘rethinks’ ageism.

Except for a brief mention early in the book, of ageism effecting various age groups, eg the problems of finding employment for people over forty, the book concentrates on ageism and the elderly. Bytheway uses good illustrations and his referencing is quite adequate, as is his recommended further reading. People whose interest is stimulated by reading this book, consequently should find many channels to develop that interest.

This book then, can be read as a useful introduction to ageism, providing an overview of the subject, together with a respectable literature review, and should be utilised as a useful teaching aid.