A Person Over 65 Can Actually Still Stand.
by Erica and Karen
We detest being offered a seat on a bus or the subway just because we are over 65—seniors. (In fact, you turn into a senior much younger if you are a woman.)
We are all in favor of being polite, and anyone who appears weary, or is disabled, or is with child or dog or heavy bags, should be offered a seat by someone who is not. But a person is not weary or disabled just because she is over 65. Indeed, the linked assumptions that a person over a certain age is old, and old equals incapacitated, are outdated and counterfactual. Those assumptions are fueled by media stereotypes that have no foundation.
People of any age may be in need of a seat, but people over fifty are usually happy to stand if they are not carrying anything. We know that sitting is the new smoking! And we know how to ride standing up, even when there is a cowboy at the controls, because we have been doing it for a long long time.
We recognize that not everything about our bodies is likely to be better at 80 than at 20. But a lot of things are just fine, especially in the twenty first century, when we women who are aging into our 60s and 70s and 80s and 90s are healthier than ever, have long lives ahead of us, and have definite ideas about how to live those lives. Like we lived the first part–engaged and involved, full of vim and vigor, standing up and walking fast.
And to all of you lovely young people who think about offering us a seat—there are times when we really do need one. Like when we overdo it at the Greenmarket and look like fully loaded mules. If you offer, we will gratefully accept. We’ll do the same for you.
Totally get this, and agree. In fact, when I am in a frisky mood and someone offers me a seat, I glance down and say, "Oh! Am I showing already!?"
I don’t agree. I know folks who raise their children (male and female) to respect their elders and offer a seat to those older, both men and women. This article is myopic to me.
I don’t agree. I know folks who raise their children (male and female) to respect their elders and offer a seat to those older, both men and women. This article is myopic to me.
I will joyfully take a seat when offered.
I will joyfully take a seat when offered.
I am soundly amused when my biological age is acknowledged. It never seems evident to me, though I am alert to physical changes. My role model, my ever-energetic mother never spoke of aging nor did she ever seem to think she was old. She died at age 96 with a legacy of tackling any presumed age defining obstacle.
I don’t agree. My husband was raised to offer his seat to any woman who would otherwise need to stand. He doesn’t take offense if they refuse the offer. I have had vertigo since I was 40 and I need to sit on a moving vehicle. I would never be offended if someone offered their seat, even though I am now over 60. I’m very agile and athletic otherwise, so you never know. Just be kind and accept the offer in the way it was intended instead of assuming the person thinks you are feable.
Really girls? This is pretty shallow content especially from such distinguished authors …
Oh yeah.
I do not dye my hair, and that, unfortunately, is where the assumption is made that I need a seat on the bus or subway. Next thing you know, they’ll be asking if I need help unwrapping my candy bar.
Usually, it’s a younger person being polite with the seat offer, so I say thanks, but no thanks. But before declining, I pause to ask "Do I really look that old?" Kinda catches them off guard.
Oh yeah.
I do not dye my hair, and that, unfortunately, is where the assumption is made that I need a seat on the bus or subway. Next thing you know, they’ll be asking if I need help unwrapping my candy bar.
Usually, it’s a younger person being polite with the seat offer, so I say thanks, but no thanks. But before declining, I pause to ask "Do I really look that old?" Kinda catches them off guard.
Question: Is the woman in the photo that accompanies the article "A Person Over 65 Can Actually Still Stand" 65 years old?