Investigate ageism and attitudes toward aging.Discuss

Project #6: Health Check — Fountain of Youth

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The Fountain of Youth

OBJECTIVE: To investigate ageism and attitudes toward aging.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY: Research and reflection paper

COMPLETION TIME: 1 – 2 hours

DIRECTIONS: For this assignment, use all the resources you can think of to find products designed to make or keep someone young and healthy. Keep in mind that some health products are necessary to help age-related issues, but others are really directed at our vanity or ego. In fact, some “youth restoring” products or processes come with serious risks. BUT many still partake in order not to “look old”. Are we obsessed with beauty? Are we obsessed with aging? One thing is for certain, products geared to helping humans look youthful make A LOT of money. Check in magazines (particularly check the advertisements in the back of the magazine), newspapers, the Internet, television, and even local stores, such as stores that sell supplements, beauty products, exercise equipment. If you are lucky, you might even catch an infomercial. As you observe what is around us, consider how we are influenced by advertising (Social Learning Theory). You’ll need to spend 30 to 60 minutes just researching and observing. Make notes as you go so they will help with your summary.

WRITE YOUR SUMMARY:

Introduce the topic of the aging population and the ways in which people are trying to look and feel younger and healthier.
Highlight the most interesting and the most unusual advertisements, processes, or products you found.
Report on any scientific findings or warnings about products that claim to keep a person youthful. Are there health risks? Are the promises of the product skeptical or unsupported?
Conclude with your opinion on the number, variety, and apparent quality of products that claim to keep a person healthy and younger-looking in old age. Then describe your strategy about your own aging process. Would you have plastic surgery? Do you or will you color your hair? Are facials in your future? Do you eat healthy & exercise now to be healthy later? You don’t have to answer these specific questions, just summarize your views and how you hope or plan to handle aging.