Calculated Ageism: Generational Sacrifice as a Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Objectives Popular responses to the pandemic illustrate ageism’s pervasiveness and the extent of collective acquiescence to its newest expressions. We explore these themes by analyzing Twitter reactions to “calculated ageism” – a term we use to refer to a political figure’s edict that older adults should sacrifice their lives if it will mitigate the pandemic’s economic damage to younger people. Methods Using thematic analysis, we examine tweets (n=188) responding to Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick’s March 23, 2020, statement that encouraged generational self-sacrifice. Themes that emerged included positions of support or opposition and tweeters’ critiques. Results The large majority of tweets – 90 percent – opposed calculated ageism, while only 5 percent supported it and 5 percent conveyed no position. Opposition centered on moral critiques, political-economic critiques, assertions of older adults’ worth, and public health arguments. Support centered on individual responsibility and patriotism. Discussion While prior research reveals ageism to be solidly entrenched in popular culture, our study finds that limits prevail and identifies the reasons underlying them. The most common reasons for opposing calculated ageism center on its immorality and on its privileging of the economic interests of the powerful few over the many, patterns suggesting that the boundaries of ageism are influenced by core beliefs about fairness. They also are shaped by a bedrock conviction that older lives have value. This intergenerational solidarity could be leveraged to reduce ageism during the pandemic and beyond.

What social media told us in the time of COVID-19: a scoping review

“…70 Similar research examined 188 tweets via thematic analysis and showed that 90% (169) of tweets opposed ageism, whereas 5% (9) of tweets favoured ageism, and 5% (10) of tweets were neutral. 53 Two of 81 reviewed studies, both based in China, focused on assessing the mental health of social media users. 44,45 A cross-sectional study 44 investigated the relationship between anxiety and social media exposure, which is theoretically defined as "the extent to which audience members have encountered specific messages".…”

Ageism in the time of COVID-19

“…Devaluing of older adults’ social status in society is also present in expressions of “calculated ageism.” Calculated ageism refers to expressions or sentiments that justify prejudicial beliefs or unfair treatment with positive claims ( Barrett et al, 2020 ). During the pandemic, public discourse that suggests older generations should sacrifice their lives in order to reduce the economic cost of COVID-19 for future generations has emerged ( Barrett et al, 2020 ). In this case, the ageist expression is that older lives are expendable, which is set against the benefit of reduced economic burden on younger generations.…”

“…Although expressions of hostile, calculated ageism have arisen during the pandemic, they are not necessarily widely endorsed. Barrett et al (2020) used thematic analysis to examine 188 tweets in response to Texas Governor Dan Patrick’s (aged 69) statement that encouraged self-sacrifice of those aged 70 plus for the economic benefit of America’s future generations. Only 5% of responses endorsed the statement, 90% opposed, and the remaining 5% conveyed no position.…”

Ageism and older people’s health and well-being during the Covid-19-pandemic: the moderating role of subjective aging

“…It has to be noted, however, that the most extreme of these posts (e.g. the suggestions by a Texan politician that older adults should sacrifice their lives if it will mitigate the pandemic's economic damage to younger people) were also met with broad opposition and critique (Barrett et al 2020).…”