Guest Post: What’s in a Name…Part 1
What’s in a Name?
I have been part of a group that is trying to establish a national Institute in Sarasota County. We have been calling it the Institute for the Ages. Some have commented that people don’t want to be part of something that suggests aging. That led me to conclude that age bias is alive and well.
I want to explore two aspects of age bias. The first is our own bias about aging—the messages we give ourselves, the assumptions we have about aging. The second (to be explored in a later blog) are the messages we receive from society at large.
I will start with my own age bias. At a party, a convertible with the top down arrived. My first thought was how nice to be going to a party with younger people. I soon realized that the driver was a man who lives at the retirement community, Plymouth Harbor, with others in the car from the same place. I was startled. Is that the image I have of an 85-year-old man and if he is so “with it” why is he in Plymouth Harbor? My thought process reflected my bias about aging–that if you are in a retirement community you would not be in a convertible—especially in the back seat. I was doing is what we do all the time—we categorize people by age. We categorize teen-agers, middle agers, baby boomers and older people. But you and I know the reality—that there is more heterogeneity as people age, not less.
What do you think of the name, the Institute for the Ages? What assumptions do you have about aging?
Let us know.
Nancy K. Schlossberg
www.transitionsthroughlife.com
Nancy K. Schlossberg, EdD, counseling psychologist, is professor emerita at the University of Maryland and past president of the National Career Development Association. Her work has been showcased on the front page of USA Today and has been quoted in the New York Times, the St. Petersburg Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reader’s Digest, and Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer.
Her latest book Revitalizing Retirement: Reshpaing Your Identity, Relationships, and Purpose, gives unique guidance on how to create a happy, fulfilling retirement. Nancy is a member of the SCOPE Board.
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Comments
Nancy, how about Institute for the Ageless? That way you won’t have to change the monogrammed linens. Marilyn
And seriously, Nancy, Institute for the Ages sounds like we’re going on an archeological dig. At least it does to me.
Marilyn
I have been involved with the Macklin Intergenerational Institute in Findlay, OH. They are very much into shutting down the bias by mingling both ends of the age spectrum. It is a great concept. Feel free to check them out, http://www.macklininstitute.org.
I agree with Marilyn, please let us know the purpose and mission of the Institute.
and, if it applies to the mission, how about “Institute for All Ages”? That name may get support/participation from a broader population.
I have found that the term Senior applies to me at 50 if I live in Sarasota - for services at Senior Friendship Center. However, to get a Senior discount in Aspen, Colorado that age is 70.
Nancy:
Absent a mission statement for the proposed entity, naming it is difficult. That said, here is a suggestion.
The word “institute” sound so “institutional”
How about a name that I think has a more positive connotation. A name that would eliminate any possible age bias, either mine or theirs. How about “The Sarasota Center for Creative Living”
Before thinking of a name, I needed to “feel” what I imagined Sarasota could be…this place that we and others might describe as:
“A vibrant and thriving multi-generation community, where people of every age and any age live life to the fullest, active, energized and engaged, learning and contributing together to make our world a better place.”
I celebrate those older than me, the older the better because this inspires me to know the many years ahead I may have to enjoy life and all that it is about. Older just means more beautiful stories to share cause our lives are really all about our stories including the story of our community.
I saw that there was some curiosity about the mission of the Institute. Here it is…
The Institute for the Ages’ mission is to activate ideas that prepare us for the opportunities and challenges associated with aging populations. It convenes representatives of communities, government, research organizations, companies, and other partners to identify and advance policy, product, and service innovations that ultimately improve the lives of people across age groups.
The vision is to be the hub of a global network of organizations that enable healthy aging, at a community scale.
Thanks for all of your comments and I look forward to reading more!!!
Kim
I was checking out Nancy’s blog and saw this post that I thought would be relevant to our discussion.
Posted by Barbara Finkelstein:
There are qualities in Dr. Schlosserg’s work that I find inspirational: Intelligence, humor, wonderful sense of the absurd. Dr. Nancy is willing to put herself out there in ways that makes learning and reflection possible and helps the he difficult go down more easily. And of course empowerment is what her work is all about.
Transcending stereotypes? that seems to be an important piece of getting over any of the isms. At one time or another, I have been all those things. I’m going to think about assumptions about aging and others as well. Will get back.
Institute for the ages? YES!
how about “Institute for the Sages” ?