'My opinion is that doctors prefer younger people': older women, physicians and ageism
In: Ageing and society: the journal of the Centre for Policy on Ageing and the British Society of Gerontology, Band 38, Heft 2, S. 240-266
ISSN: 1469-1779
ABSTRACTThis study examines older women's views about and subjective experience of ageism during interactions with physicians. Views about and experience of sexism are also examined. Data were obtained from in-depth, face-to-face interviews conducted with 36 Canadian women 55 years and older. The findings indicate that older women believe ageism is likely to occur during medical encounters and are concerned about it. Few, however, claim to have personally experienced it. Contradicting the stereotype of the passive older patient, many participants were employing strategies to avoid becoming targets of ageism. Although there was some concern about sexism during medical encounters, in general, the women appeared to be less conscious of sexism than ageism.