Caitlin Monahan

and 3 more

Individuals are stereotyped based on their perceived identities and there are rising concerns about ableism, ageism, and sexism in the United States. Cultural stereotypes of older adults (including older women and men) living with a disability (LWD) are understudied despite their negative stigmatizations and consequences in different contexts such as in healthcare and employment. In this study, we identified and assessed these stereotypes. Students from three U.S. universities ( N = 401) listed their understanding of the stereotypes of older adults LWD, older men LWD, older women LWD, older men, older women, older adults, persons LWD, men, and women. Data were analyzed using two established methodologies used in stereotyping research. Results revealed that stereotypes of older adults LWD and persons LWD contained shared elements, as the top stereotypes listed for both groups were negative and many overlapped (burdensome, dependent, devalued, “handicapped”, mean, physically slow, sad, unintelligent, unproductive, weak). Negative stereotypes of older adults LWD also included long-standing stereotypes listed of older adults (deteriorating, sick, mean). Gendered stereotypes also emerged for older men (financially stable, leader) and older women (nice) but stereotypes of older men LWD and older women LWD were more closely related to those of disability than of gender. Results also revealed unique stereotypes (e.g., persons LWD as abnormal). Results can help inform much-needed theoretical frameworks and prejudice reduction strategies aimed at improving attitudes toward diverse groups of older adults who may be facing poor health and discrimination due to experiences of ageism, sexism, and/or ableism.