Subjective Assessment of Seniors on the Phenomenon of Discrimination: Analysis Against the Background of the Europe 2020 Strategy Implementation

Abstract

Purpose: Our study aimed to compare objective factors increasing discrimination and subjective feelings of seniors about discrimination. Additionally, we have attempted to indicate whether the elderly is discriminated against and to what extent they report such situations. Design/Methodology/Approach: The linear ordering by Hellwig's method was used to construct Taxonomic Measure of Preventing Exclusion (TMPEi) and synthetic measures for finding the level of discrimination perception by seniors. Eurostat data was used to construct the TMPEi and Special Eurobarometer data to learn about senior subjective assessment of discrimination. Findings: The construction of an additional taxonomic measure allowed for determining a negative relationship between the level of socio-economic development of a given country and the risk of discrimination. Comparing the EU countries' classification based on the obtained values with the results of the classification made based on the TMPEi allowed to check whether the lower risk of exclusion results in less discriminatory behavior and whether it influences seniors' better assessments in terms of the discrimination they observe. Practical Implications: As a result, the possibility of applying for an institutional response of the European Union countries to the problems identified by seniors reflecting discrimination against citizens was assumed. Seniors constitute a growing social group. For this reason, they will have an increasing impact not only on social policy but also on product and service markets and, by participating in elections, they will decide who will run the countries. Originality/Value: Because implementing strategic goals is usually controlled at the level of measurable indicators, the undertaken research constitutes an innovative approach to evaluating the implementation level of the Europe 2020 strategy. Our study is unique and fills the gap in researching the subjective assessment of seniors against discrimination.

How Active Are European Seniors—Their Personal Ways to Active Ageing? Is Seniors’ Activity in Line with the Expectations of the Active Ageing Strategy?

“…In our study, we focused on activities undertaken or activity assessments made by seniors aged 65+. There is some debate in the literature about what age should be used to define old age [82][83][84][85][86][87]. However, according to Alén et al [86] and Przybysz et al [87], we accept the age limit of 65 as older elderly.…”

Tourism-Related Needs in the Context of Seniors’ Living and Social Conditions

“…The ages used to identify senior citizen tourists vary depending on the country and the socioeconomic conditions under consideration. Przybysz et al [ 25 ] found that an officially older adult is a person over 60 years of age, but in the Central Statistical Office of Poland studies, one can find a reference to Eurostat and OECD, in which the term elderly is used for people over 65.…”

“…When they participate in recreation and tourism they overcome (reasonably) their own limitations, which may bring additional benefits. Accordingly, it is clear that the concept of ageism has an essential meaning for analysing discrimination against seniors [ 25 ]. In creating his definition of ageism in 1969, Butler [ 29 ] intended to present a number of factors focusing on prejudices against the elderly.…”

“…Thus, the animosity of the environment towards seniors and tourism results from negative stereotypes and, as indicated by Vauclair et al [ 30 ], the concept of ageism covers all of these aspects. Therefore, while encouraging tourism, it is necessary to counteract age-related stereotypes and stigmatization regarded as soft discrimination [ 25 ].…”

Documents of Socially Engaged Art

“…Keywords: Socially engaged arts; outcomes; presentation of results; data visualisation, documentation Despite the rapid social development and recognition of fundamental human rights over the past few decades in most parts of the world (Beitz, 2011;Streeten, 1981;United Nations General Assembly, 1949), a large body of evidence consistently has demonstrated widespread discrimination towards people with specific personal and sociodemographic characteristics (Arrow et al, 2015). A large number of studies in Europe and other countries have also demonstrated widespread discrimination (EU-MIDIS, 2010, 2017), most frequently based on ethnic or immigrant origin (Esses, 2021;Kende et al, 2021), gender (Cleveland et al, 2013;Bobbitt-Zeher, 2011), sexual orientation (Patacchini et al, 2015;Przybysz et al, 2021), religious beliefs (Evans, 2012) and disability (Hackett et al, 2020).…”