Julia Rozanova, University of Alberta

Seniors and Portrayals of Intra-generational and Inter-generational Inequality in the Globe and Mail

In her study, Ms. Rozanova and her colleagues selected 30 articles reporting issues related to older adults, published in The Globe and Mail in 2004, and analyzed the content of these articles. They searched for articles in which older adults were represented in contrast to one another and in contrast to younger persons. Media often shows older adults in a negative light, as a vulnerable population. Media ageism is the discrimination against a particular age group, in this case the elderly.

Ms. Rozanova's study showed that there is a need to teach clinicians and practitioners media literacy skills when working with an aging population. The negative stereotypes about aging and older persons perpetuated by the media may be very subtle however they have harmful consequences on older adults' personal dignity, self-esteem, and general well-being.

This project was Ms. Rozanova's first step towards developing a research career focused on the inequalities of healthy aging. Her research will focus on uncovering cultural patterns that sustain ageism and age-based exclusion. Ms. Rozanova will seek to improve the quality of life of older adults by means of her research. She will defend her PhD dissertation quite soon and is applying for a Faculty position at one of Canada's top Universities. She aspires to educate professionals who will work with older adults and to conduct research that will improve the conditions of social existence for people of all ages.