Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Center for Aging Studies, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21050, USA.
Gerontologist. 2012 Apr;52(2):189-98. doi: 10.1093/geront/gnr155. Epub 2012 Mar 5.
This article explores a clash between incoming Baby Boomers and older residents in an active adult retirement community (AARC). We examine issues of social identity and attitudes as these groups encounter each other.
Data are drawn from a multiyear ethnographic study of social relations in senior housing. Research at this site included in-depth, open-ended interviews (47), field notes (25), and participant observation in the field (500 hr). Research team biweekly discussions and Atlas.ti software program facilitated analysis.
We begin with a poignant incident that has continued to engender feelings of rejection by elders with each retelling and suggests the power and prevalence of ageism in this AARC. We identify three pervasive themes: (a) social identity and image matter, (b) significant cultural and attitudinal differences exist between Boomers and older residents, and (c) shared age matters less than shared interests.
Our data clearly show the operation of ageism in this community and an equating of being old with being sick. The conflict between these two age cohorts suggests that cohort consciousness among Boomers carries elements of age denial, shared by the older old. It also challenges the Third Age concept as a generational phenomenon.
本文探讨了活跃成人退休社区（AARC）中即将到来的婴儿潮一代与老年居民之间的冲突。我们研究了这些群体相互接触时的社会认同和态度问题。
数据来自对老年人住房社会关系进行多年的民族志研究。该地点的研究包括深入的、开放式访谈（47 次）、实地记录（25 次）和现场参与观察（500 小时）。研究团队每周两次的讨论和 Atlas.ti 软件程序促进了分析。
我们首先介绍了一个令人痛心的事件，该事件在每次讲述时都会继续引起老年人的反感，这表明在这个 AARC 中存在年龄歧视的力量和普遍性。我们确定了三个普遍存在的主题：（a）社会认同和形象很重要，（b）婴儿潮一代和老年居民之间存在显著的文化和态度差异，（c）共同的年龄比共同的兴趣重要。
我们的数据清楚地表明了这种社区中的年龄歧视运作方式，以及将年老与患病等同起来。这两个年龄群体之间的冲突表明，婴儿潮一代的群体意识具有年龄否认的元素，这与年老的老年人共享。它还挑战了第三代概念作为一种代际现象。
