Lecture 9&10 -Ageism & Gender Based Violence

Question 1

What is elderspeak?

Answer 1

Elderspeak is a form of communication with older adults that infantilizes them, often using simplified language or a condescending tone.

Question 2

What does Levy’s stereotype embodiment work focus on?

Answer 2

Levy’s work shows that older adults who internalize negative age stereotypes tend to perform worse on cognitive and physical tasks, showing increased stress and lower well-being.

Question 3

What is Susan Sontag’s view on aging?

Answer 3

Sontag suggests that aging is seen as a social pathology for women, where femininity is associated with incompetence and passivity, while aging improves men’s perceived competence.

Question 4

What are the consequences of internalizing negative stereotypes of aging?

Answer 4

Associated with
- Less physical activity
- Reduced preventive health care
- Lower will to live
- Decreased adherence to medical advice/treatment

Question 5

How are older men and women typically described in terms of appearance?

Answer 5

Older men are seen as dignified and charming, with aging having a positive impact on appearance. Older women are seen as frail and wrinkled, with aging having a negative impact on appearance.

Question 6

What does research indicate about body dissatisfaction and aging in women?

Answer 6

Body dissatisfaction remains stable with age, but younger women feel worse about their bodies, while disordered eating and negative emotions may decrease over time.

Question 7

What is menopause and when does it typically occur?

Answer 7

Menopause is the permanent end of menstrual periods due to decreased hormone production, usually occurring around age 50.

Question 8

What is perimenopause?

Answer 8

Refers to the years before and 12 months after a woman’s last menstrual cycle, marked by hormonal changes and symptoms.

Question 9

What symptoms do women commonly experience during perimenopause?

Answer 9

• Changes in menstrual cycle length and regularity
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness
• Brain fog
• Low mood

Question 10

How does a decline in estrogen during menopause affect appearance?

Answer 10

1. Decreased collagen → thinner, less elastic skin
2. Fat redistribution → sagging skin and breasts
3. Increased facial hair and deeper voice
4. Vaginal tissues thin and lose lubrication

Question 11

What controversey and risks are associated with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)?

Answer 11

• HRT has been criticized for medicalizing menopause, a natural process.
• Increased risks of breast cancer, heart disease, and strokes, but recent studies suggest it may have some benefits if used correctly.

Question 12

What is the widowhood effect?

Answer 12

It is the elevated risk of mortality following the death of a spouse, commonly experienced by women who outlive male partners.

Question 13

What is the difference between retirement views for men and women?

Answer 13

Men tend to view retirement as a break or leisure time, while women often see it as an opportunity for caregiving, volunteer work, or bridge work.

Question 14

What is role strain relief hypothesis?

Answer 14

Suggests parents, especially mothers, experience increased well-being after children leave home.

Question 15

What is the empty-nest or role loss hypothesis?

Answer 15

Proposes that mothers lacking other life roles may feel depressed and have decreased life satisfaction when children leave home.

Question 16

What does the feminization of poverty mean?

Answer 16

Refers to the phenomenon where women, especially older women, are more likely to experience poverty due to factor like:
- earning less income
- occupational segregation, - live longer than male spouses,
- bear caregiving burdens, leading to higher morbidity and financial challenges.

Question 17

What are the three tiers of Canada’s retirement income system?

Answer 17

1) Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Quebec Pension Plan (QPP)
2) Old Age Security (OAS), and
3) employer-sponsored pensions and personal savings.

Question 18

What is OAS (Old Age Security) and GIS (Guaranteed Income Supplement)?

Answer 18

They are Canadian government programs designed to provide income support to older adults, with OAS providing a basic income and GIS offering additional financial support for low-income seniors.

Question 19

What are the three concepts of aging successfully?

Answer 19

Harmonious aging (balancing challenges and opportunities), active aging (staying engaged in the community), and resilient aging (acknowledging strengths despite challenges).

Question 20

What is tonic immobility?

Answer 20

An involuntary “frozen” response to fear during high-stress situations, such as during a sexual assault, where the victim may feel unable to resist.

Question 21

What is compliant sex?

Answer 21

Occurs when a person agrees to sexual acts despite not wanting to, often due to societal pressure, fear of conflict, or a desire to avoid harm. It is not genuine consent.

Question 22

What is rape culture?

Answer 22

Rape culture normalizes sexual violence, with perpetrators facing minimal repercussions.

Question 23

What are rape myths and their impact?

Answer 23

[ Rape myths are false beliefs about rape, contributing to victim blaming and shifting responsibility from perpetrators to survivors.

Question 24

What are the phases in Walker’s Cycle of Abuse?

Answer 24

1) Tension-building (minor incidents and fear), 2) Explosion (actual abuse), 3) Honeymoon phase (apologies and promises), and denial perpetuates the cycle.

Question 25

What are the three types of intimate partner violence?

Answer 25

1. Common Couple Violence: Situational conflicts that occasionally escalate to mild violence; not severe and affects both genders equally.
2. Intimate Terrorism: Controlling, coercive violence that happens regularly and worsens over time; mostly committed by men.
3. Violent Resistance: Self-defense against a partner’s violence; more often committed by women.

3.