At what point in history did society go from venerating age to despising it?

Question

There was a time, not so long ago (relatively) when age was seen as a sort of badge of honor and old people were respected as wise and experienced people. Today, it's all youth and age has been denegrated to the point where if a person is over 50 he's sort of thought of as some doddering old fool who should dye his hair and try to look younger.

When did this happen and why?

Answer 1

There has always been a striving of the young to make their own way without listening to older generations. Usually this has been tempered because the generations were connected, if not living in the same house at least living close to one another. In addition, the experience of the previous generation was taught to the subsequent generation. In my opinion the separating of the generations began to increase and speedup at the end of World War II when several societal changes came together.

From efforts of Franklin Roosevelt the federal government began to expand at an ever faster rate with corresponding increase in government intrusion into the private lives of individuals. This included the government taking on more and more responsibilities that had traditionally been performed in the private sector.

At the end of World War II society began to value higher education more than experienced tradesmen and therefore more individuals went to higher education and as a result began to move to new geographical areas away from their traditional family.

The marketing of consumer goods began to increasingly focus on younger people for direct sales (not through the parent). This provided for young people to rely less and less on the previous generation.

The interpretation of the laws began to view younger people to be independent of their parents and in some cases allowing them to ‘divorce’ their parents. Along with this parents were increasingly forbidden from disciplining their own children and thereby providing for the children to run wild.

Most significantly is that, the rites of passage into adulthood were either dropped or minimized. The species of homo sapiens sapiens has the need, as a cultural species, to teach the young to go through a rite to become accepted as an adult. Without that process the young will try to make such a transition without consciously knowing they need it nor knowing how to do it.

Answer 2

Growing Old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!!!

It started when Old men declare war, buts its the youths that must fight them. Its during my generation I guess. when all is placed 18+! So anyone that attained the age of 18 feels like a Lord over his parents!!!

But may I seek to correct you? Not all grey hairs is full of wisdom!! Some are full of Lice!!!
Sugar daddies!!!
Think again Cinny!!!

Answer 3

(Cinn, your froggy avatar is showing...) You are confusing youth culture with the culture at large, what ever the media says about needing to be youthful it is the over 50's who still run the world so perhaps the message is just a diversion..... remember the white mice in Hitchhikers Guide...

Answer 4

some societies, in other countries still value and honor their elderly.
I suspect media portrayal of youth,aging and beauty, consumerism are factors which contribute to this issue but I have no idea when this change started

Answer 5

Who are you calling an doddering old fool? I ain't no fool. Doddering and old, maybe. I ain't tellin'.

Answer 6

I don't know, I'm too far gone for that. I just asked nurse to wheel me over here so I can tickle that little kitty under the chin.

Answer 7

It started when people started watching music, instead of listenening to music. 1980's

Answer 8

During my lifetime!

I expect every one would answer similarly