The document discusses attitudes toward aging in China, South Africa, and the US. In China, traditional Confucian culture respects elders, but modernization is weakening filial piety as youth gain independence. In South Africa, rural elders contribute to households and are respected, but urbanization, poverty, and abuse are challenging elder treatment. The US initially revered elders but by the 19th century attitudes worsened; however, today's healthy, educated elders demand attention from society and businesses due to their growing numbers and contributions.

1. Attitudes towards aging in
different cultures
Chris Kokkola

2. China
• China is becoming an aging country. Among China’s 1.3 billion
population, the number of older adults is burgeoning. The
growth rate of this population segment is 3.2%, almost three
times the overall rate
• Traditional Chinese culture has been influenced by
Confucianism over the past thousands of years.

3. China
• . Its ethics pay homage to respect for older people. Its adages, such as
“the elder is a treasure in the family,” are strongly emphasized. Older
people, therefore, are presumably accorded the highest position in the
family hierarchy and are entitled to be respected and honored by the
younger generation
• However, economic and social changes may have an impact on the status
of older people and consequently on one’s attitudes toward older people.
Modernization and urbanization are believed to promote value systems
that either equalize age groups or result in lower status for older people

4. China
• Zhan (2004a) found that young people in China today adopted a more
liberal view toward family than their parents’ generation by expressing
preference to maintain independent households from their parents. Other
research indicated “declining adherence to filial beliefs and commitments”
among Chinese youth (Ho, Hong,& Chiu, 1989). Socioeconomic changes in
China gave young people more say over their own lives and family issues,
such as marriages, education, and career choices.
• Zhan and Montgomery (2003) investigated the changing dynamics of
caregiving in urban China against the backdrops of economic reforms and
cultural emphasis of xiao (filial piety). Their study showed “a decline in the
patrilocal tradition of caregiving

5. China
• As a result, the traditional network of support for old people embedded in
the family system only needs to be reconsidered. Family is no longer the
panacea for future elder care. The decreasing family size and job mobility
have added to the segregation and isolation of family.

6. South Africa
• Vast amount of rural areas in South Africa where the elderly lives and
contribute to household activities and income
• Elderly ages faster in rural areas as they would in urban areas
• View of the elderly is changing
– From a perspective of respect to a more intolerant one
• Doctors (especially in provincial sector) have a predominant negative
attitude towards the elderly
• Doctors function strongly on a medical model where the elderly is seen as
a group with a poor prognosis

7. South Africa
• Abuse of the elderly is high
• ‘community togetherness and support ‘Ubuntu’ grew stronger during
apartheid when community support between Black Africans were
essential When ‘Ubuntu’ is decreasing, so does the traditional respectful
care that the elderly enjoyed in African families
• Another post „traditional Black families became dependent on elderly
pension as part of the household income Most state dependent elderly
gets small pensions and can’t afford themselves Pension doesn’t always
reach the elderly

8. USA
• Society has not always viewed older adults in the same way. In colonial
America, the tendency was to revere older people. By the mid- 19th
century, the attitude was becoming more disrespectful.
• Since 1970, the United States has experienced a demographic revolution.
Our young country is growing old. The current generation of older adults is
healthier, lives longer, and has more money and education. The attitudes
of the 19th century still prevail but probably not for long. We are
witnessing continuing changes in attitudes toward old age as society
notices the opportunities as well as the difficulties of later life

9. USA
• Businesses did not consider them a viable demographic market,
community organizations labeled them recipients rather than
contributors, and when they were included in commercials, movies or
news segments, they were portrayed as unhealthy, unproductive and
uninvolved: a burden on the economy and the younger generations.
• The tide has turned, however, and the image of the feeble and fragile
senior is quickly being replaced. Seniors can no longer be ignored, and in
an ironic twist, they have become the future concern of corporate
America.

10. USA
• he difference is their active rather than passive involvement in these
areas. Rather than accepting what is handed to them, seniors have
learned of their importance to government agencies, health care
organizations and financial institutions. And armed with this knowledge,
they are no longer willing to sit idly by - they are questioning policies,
making decisions, enriching their lives and demanding attention.
• Looking at this group's profile, it's easy to wonder if they won't be taking
care of the younger generations and society's responsibilities instead of
the opposite scenario. Today's older Americans have not only experienced
some of the most seminal events in history, they continue to be involved
in this country's activities. Many commit the free time found in retirement
to volunteer opportunities, and some have found jobs to keep them busy.

11. References
• http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1048&context=famconfacpub&se
i-redir=1#search="attitudes+towards+old+age+in+china”
• http://www.sa.gov.au/upload/franchise/Seniors/Office%20for%20the%20Ageing%20-
%20Publications/Publications/The%20challenges%20of%20care%20of%20the%20elderly%20
in%20South%20Africa.pdf
• http://www.cps.unt.edu/natla/rsrc/lsn_plans/plan_chng_attitude.pdf
• http://robinson.gsu.edu/magazine/aging.html