Respecting The Elderly

Essay Plan Template
Group Members/Reg No.: Koh Rui Yi (11), Sarah Mak (17), Tan Hui Zhen (26), Glenda Tan (27)
Class: 3SE
Question: ‘We worship the young and scorn the old.’ What is your opinion?

Introduction

“If you don’t heed the advice of your elders, you will suffer losses.” This Chinese saying is used to caution the young to listen to the guidance and use the experience of their elders, lest they make the same mistakes. In many societies around the world, however, the virtue of respecting the elderly is gradually eroded due to Westernisation. In addition, the media has insidiously bred the message that associates the young with speed, strength and vigour. On the other hand, the old are portrayed as slow and weak, inferior to those who

In America, Diamond said, a "cult of youth" and emphasis on the virtues of independence, individualism and self-reliance also make life hard on older people as they inevitably lose some of these traits.

Western culture strongly encourages children to think independently. This way of upbringing means that the young tends to not value elders’ views, thus, they may begin to treat them with derision. In contrast, Asian cultures teach the young about respecting the elderly. However, in the recent times, these values of respect are being eroded. Many Asian countries are shifting from a collectivist culture where the elderly is valued as a part of the family to an individualist culture where the young value their own independence, neglecting the old. As multigenerational families become less common, it is easier for the younger generation to neglect and later ridicule the elderly. Without treating the elderly with respect, people begin to treat them with contempt. Thus, they do not appreciate the elderly as greatly as in the past and they regard the elderly with

These features are heavily desired even by the older audience. From botox injections to whole chains of makeup proclaiming to make those who have lost these characteristics regain them again. The world is obsessed with looking young, and this is perpetuated in the media such as the internet. This is especially observable as the society is able to access to information more easily. Such informations can include details and online bookings for plastic surgeries. The most horrifying fact is that even those who are perceived as more mature in the society, like middle- aged adults, fall for such claims and spend thousands of dollars on such enhancements. This has been seen in television programmes where cases of people spending zillions of dollars to look younger and more attractive are amplified. Hence, the media plays a big part in shaping our opinion of the youths