Cultural Scripting of Age Identity and Its Consequences

Abstract

Abstract This article presents an innovative view of aging and some consequences of solely using the culturally scripted norm of chronological age or calendar age (CA) for measuring age identity. The author distinguishes CA from a more individualized age (IA) that is often unaccounted for in studies of aging and that provides for some degree of age autonomy. He briefly reviews three main ways of measuring age identity and some of their consequences: (1) The cultural norm does not account for age autonomy or the diversity of individualized aging in people with the same CA level, (2) it disallows persons from taking ownership of their IA, and (3) it can contribute to the negative effects of agism. The article concludes with a call for a social movement referred to as “Old Lives Matter,” and the author maintains that the culturally scripted age norm should be adjusted for one’s level of age autonomy. This would result in more socially just decision making and a more positive, holistic approach to dealing with the aging population.