The creation of social norms and symbols that encapsulates the aging process. While aging itself is a biological process, what it means to be “young” or “old” depends on the specific culture.
Deeper Dive
Aging is perceived differently around the world. Frequently, the average life expectancy in a given region affects what age counts as “old.” For example, in the United States, where the average life expectancy is over 78 years, people are not considered “old” until they are in their sixties or seventies. However, in other parts of the world age 50 — or younger— is old. These variations in people’s perceptions of who should or should not be considered old supports the idea that youth and age are culturally constructed.
There is no universal age for being considered old. Cultures treat their elderly differently and place different values on old age. Many Eastern societies associate old age with wisdom, so they value old age much more than their Western counterparts. In Japan, adult children are expected to care for their aging parents in different ways than in the United States. Sixty five percent of Japanese elders live with their children and very few live in nursing homes. Japanese cultural norms suggest that caring for one’s parents by putting them in a nursing home is akin to neglect. Western societies tend to place an increased value on youth — so much so that many people take extreme measures to appear young. The desire to appear younger than one’s biological years is frequently reinforced in the media, including advertising, marketing, on television and in movies.