Glenn's Flight Pushes 'Old' Envelope

Oct. 23, 1998

Contact: Mary Jane Dunlap, (785) 864-8853, [email protected]

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GLENN'S FLIGHT PUSHES 'OLD' ENVELOPE

LAWRENCE -- University of Kansas researcher Mary Lee Hummert says John Glenn's space flight at age 77 pushes the stereotype envelope for older adults.

"One stereotype of older people is that they can't learn new things. Glenn is saying it is not as easy as it was at age 30, but 'I can do it and I'm enjoying it,'" says Hummert, an associate professor of communication studies who studies the effects of stereotyping older adults.

The fastest growing group of people in the United States are those older than 80, she notes. "Glenn's flight at age 77 shows that our expectations for the contributions of older persons may be too low. Those expectations may overemphasize the negative aspects of aging," Hummert says.

Glenn fits into the golden-ager stereotype of the older adult who is physically and mentally active and enjoys working with younger individuals.

"John Glenn's space flight is the kind of activity by a person approaching age 80 that influences our perception of what you can do at 80 -- especially what you can expect if you are physically fit," Hummert says. "Up to now, many of our stereotypes of aging well have come from artists, writers, poets whose achievements late in life didn't necessarily require physical fitness in addition to mental fitness."

A flip side, Hummert cautions, is that some people may view Glenn as an exception to the rule rather than an example of the potential for others approaching 80 or older.

"Here's a man who has remained physically fit in adulthood and who has excelled in leadership positions," Hummert noted. "Some people are likely to assume 'I can't do that, I'm too old. John Glenn has done exceptional things all his life. I haven't.'"

Hummert's studies have identified seven stereotype categories of adults age 60 or older, both positive and negative perceptions by young as well as older people. Currently she is trying to identify situations in which people are likely to patronize older adults.

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