Our culture promotes the belief that aging means decline, dependence and dementia, or at best isolation and depression—yet most elders are healthier, better educated and productive both economically and socially, than they were earlier in life
Researcher, writer and activist Lillian Zimmerman has grown weary with what she calls the “crisis mentality about the horrors of aging“—and the broad notions of “decline” that accompany views about aging in our society. The octogenarian says the negative views of aging fail markedly to look at the positive aspects of aging. She’s also aware of rampant ageism in society at large, but argues that older people are healthier, better educated and productive both economically and socially, than they were earlier in life. “We don’t decline when we turn 65,” Lillian writes, “In fact we continue to develop and create innovative new ways of being older.” (more…)
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Calen Pick’s famous aunt, Glenn Close, was a keynote speaker last spring at the Mental Health Commission of Canada’s conference about stigma and the way we see mental illness. Together with her sister, Jessie Close, and her nephew, Calen Pick, the three family members helped to put a family face on the experience of living with–and dealing with–mental illness among family members. 
Jackson Katz is a social theorist, educator, anti-sexism activist
Jackson Katz is a social theorist, educator, and anti-sexism activist who says that gendered understandings and behaviour are heavily influenced by media and popular culture. Katz is a major advocate of the ‘bystander approach’ to gender violence and bullying prevention. 
