Portrayal of the elderly

Modernization theory and the loss of status among the elderly Transition from traditional, agrarian societies to modern, industrial societies Improved healthcare leads to larger number of elderly, institutionalized retirement Technological advances lead to new jobs, need for cutting-edge skills rather than job experience

Urbanization leads to geographic movement and breakup of extended families Implementation of public education replaces oral tradition favoring elderly with written word and institutionalized knowledge

Signorielli: Age was measured in two separate ways: (1) an estimate of each character's chronological age, and (2) a measure of social age which categorized age from the perspective of stages in the life cycle

Social Age by Gender and Race Primetime, 1993-2002 Source: Signorielli

Source: Cuddy & Fiske

Male and Female Primetime Representation by Age

Male and Female Primetime Representation by Age

% of Characters Playing Leadership Roles

% of Characters With Some Occupational Power Over Others

% of Characters Seeking Goals