Ageism in the Mass Media: a Way of Discursive Abuse against Older People

Abstract

Some media discourses may have an impact on the recognition or violation of rights of the older people due to the socio-cultural and ideological burden of the language used, as well as the use of discursive strategies which help to perpetuate ageism in society. This article presents the results of a study aimed at examining and describing the informative treatment of older person in some digital media in Chile and Spain. This analysis was made from a Critical Discourse perspective (Van Dijk, 1999; 2002). The discussion is framed by the Political Declaration and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, adopted in 2002, which promotes the prevention of abuse and encourages the creation of an enabling environment for older people, including the media (United Nations, 2003). This study reveals that both countries show signs of abuse toward older people through media discourse, which represents a serious, culturally naturalized problem that is explicitly and implicitly manifested through various discursive strategies. These discourses feature negative, stereotype and sensationalist representations of older people, in addition to absence of voice in media coverage, inadequate or reductionist terminology, pejorative and gerontophobic ageist language, and use and abuse of rhetorical and stylistic resources.