Don’t Let Yourself Become a Senior Citizen. There’s a Better Alternative.
Is a senior citizen in their 60s or 70s, and at what point is one considered elderly?
My answer (augmented from the original Quora post):
It’s in the eye of the beholder.
I find “senior citizen” to be outdated, pejorative, ageist, and unnecessary.
I’m 78 (this month) and refuse to put myself in that category. This is not a denial that I am not older than most or that I’m not getting older. I just don’t need another moniker to remind me and to plunk me into a category that has a negative tone to it.
Culturally, we have this need to categorize people by age. It’s a by-product of the creativity of the American Psychology Association and corporate marketers.
For instance, until 1904, we had two age categories – adult and child. Then, in 1904, G. Stanley Hall, President of the APA, invented the term “adolescent.”
Since then, we’ve grown to seven categories: newborn, infancy, childhood, adolescence, young adult, middle age, and old age
Each one is a lucrative market for psychologists and clever corporate marketers.
It’s not surprising that we really don’t know what name to use for folks in that now-extended period between middle age and old age. We’ve never been here before with 20-40 years ahead of us, most of it in good health. Senior citizen probably made sense when you were automatically there at 65 in the eyes of the government, financial industry, the general public and were facing just a few years before checking out.
It doesn’t fit anymore. And I, and many in my demographic slot, take umbrage with the term.
So, if you don’t mind, I’ll step over the “senior citizen” moniker and just consider myself a fully-functioning septuagenarian with more gas in my tank than I had when I was wandering in the haze of corporate life at age 50.
I don’t much like hanging with those who consider themselves “senior citizens” since conversations tend to become “organ recitals” about the latest surgery, colonoscopy, memory lapse, knee/hip/shoulder replacement, back pain or about someone they know who just went through all of the above.
I love engaging other “kick-ass” sexagenarians/septuagenarians/octogenarians who refuse to participate in the ageism that terms like “senior citizen” represent.
“Kick-ass defined”
How do you know if you are “kick-ass”? You are:
- An iconoclast, a revolutionary, a rebel – outspoken against ageist stereotypes, attitudes, and comments; against old, bad ideas, myths, and messages about aging (e.g. traditional retirement, automatic and unchangeable senescence, youth centricity); against conventional wisdom about most things; an “outlier” in several dimensions.
- High energy – driven with a late-life sense of purpose.
- The CEO of your health – in control of your body and mind through acquired knowledge of your biology and practicing self-efficacy through sensible, healthful lifestyle habits.
- Curious – always learning, exploring, in a constant growth mode.
- Creative – demonstrating that creativity doesn’t deteriorate with age.
- Selfless producer and not a self-indulgent consumer – giving back, paying forward, lighting a path for those behind by sharing skills, experiences, talents.
- Necessary – to someone, all the time.
Equally important, I like to engage “youngers” be they millennials or GenXers because I have so much I can learn from them. And there’s a chance it will help break down the stereotypes they have about older people, a stereotype we have created ourselves by looking and acting like senior citizens or, worst case, geezers.
“Modern Elder” is the right replacement for “senior citizen.”
I like where Chip Conley, successful 50-something entrepreneur and author of a book entitled “Wisdom at Work: The Making of the Modern Elder” has gone with this. He’s coined the term “Modern Elder.”
Conley states that Modern Elders exhibit wisdom in the following ways:
- Good judgment
- Unvarnished insight
- Emotional intelligence
- Holistic thinking
- Stewardship
I think I’ve got most of these in me to bring out, polish up and do something meaningful with. I’m guessing you do too – unless you choose to be a senior citizen instead – and attend a lot of “organ recitals.”
Conley goes on to say:
“In fact, Modern Elders experience an emancipation from others’ expectations that allows us to transcend needless conventions which means we may appear more youthful and innocent. ‘Neoteny’ is a quality of being that allows certain adults to seem childlike and leads people to remark about how these elders seem so young at heart and timeless.”
See, doesn’t that sound and feel better than carrying a “senior citizen” bullseye on your back.
I can be a Modern Elder as long as I want and make a strong statement against ageism along the way. There’s really no reason I, or anyone over 50, shouldn’t be a Modern Elder until the universe decides to take the parts back.
We can slow down that inevitability, ditch the monikers and use each day to share the gifts we’ve been given.
And leave the tags for the psychologists and marketers.
I hope this resonates. Let me know below with a comment or drop me an email to gary@makeagingwork.com.
I trust that you are being safe and sensible during these challenging times. If you haven’t joined our growing list of readers, you can do so at www.makeagingwork.com. Sign up for my weekly blog there and receive my free e-book “Achieve Your Full-life Potential: Five Easy Steps to Living Longer, Healthier, and With More Purpose.”
Great and thought provoking article Gary. Two things in particular resonated for me. As a Modern Elder I have so much to learn in part because I want long to make the most of my:
Good judgment
Unvarnished insight
Emotional intelligence
Holistic thinking
Stewardship
And secondly, love that you mentioned, “I like to engage youngers be they millennials or GenXers because I have so much I can learn from them.” That reminded of a recent quote from another “kick-ass” octogenarian Alan Alda – “I have this radical idea that I’m not really listening unless I’m willing to be changed by you.”
Thanks Dave. Love that Alda quote. Modern Elder just seems to make sense on so many levels. Thanks for tuning in and chiming in.
Modern Elder is abbreviated as “ME”!
Well done Gary.
Yep, Chuck. You definitely fit the M-E mold. Thanks for the comment.
Just curious! Why a label like elder?
Older adult is how I describe my “ older” adults yoga class & the class descriptions
May include ; for people with arthritis or be cautious if your knees , shoulders etc
Have physical limitations-
Elder is preferable to elderly. Elder has more of a wisdom and leadership feel to it – as in a church elder. I think that is where Chip Conley is coming from. But there certainly isn’t nearly the feel of elderly with “older adult.” Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
The modern elder approach jives nicely with my Ambitious Energized Alpha Boomers concept that we’ve discussed, Gary.. I enjoy your weekly Making Aging Work commentaries and the opportunities they afford to learn something new. Stay safe, take care, and be well.
Thanks, Ron – good to hear from you. Your Ambitious Energized Alpha Boomer makes me think of a tag that I’ve always liked – Audacious Ager. We’re staying safe and doing OK – but, honestly, the walls are beginning to creep in. Thanks for tuning in and for your kind comments.
I subscribe to the old adage, “attitude determines altitude”. More than happy to take advantage of the senior discounts, but refuse to view myself as a senior. As an active ice hockey player at age 66, we have an saying that we don’t fear the time a younger player blows past us, but the time we fail to turn around to chase them down. Great blog, Gary, keep ’em coming!
Thanks, Rick. I enjoyed our chat this week and look forward to more of your insight down the road. Thanks for all that you shared this week.
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