Communication Between Cultures

Respect for the elderly is manifest not only in deep structure institutions and social

laws but also by a culture’s use of language. Earlier in this section, we mentioned the

negative names applied to the elderly in the United States. This is not the case in

most Asian cultures. Here, respect for the

elderly is regularly expressed in its lan-

guage. It reveals a sincere and deep-rooted

reverence for the elderly. A family with an

old person has a living treasure of gold.

And in India the termjiallows the speaker

to show respect to the older person being

addressed.

Elderly people are not only venerated in Asian cultures; they are also influential

both inside and outside the family. In Korean culture, children are taught at a young

age that grandparents and other older members of the family are the authority fig-

ures.^137 This same attitude is found in China. As Wenzhong and Grove note,

“Perhaps the chief determinant of relative power in China is seniority.”^138 The hier-

archy associated with age in Chinese culture is clear. After the father, the eldest male

has the most authority. When Chinese families resettle in the United States, they still

follow the customs associated with respecting the elderly and would experience a

sense of shame were their elderly parents placed in nursing homes.

East African

While age grouping, and the perceptions and roles associated with each grouping are

found in every culture, it is perhaps most detailed in East Africa, particularly when

applied to the elderly. Among the Maasai and Tirike in Kenya, males move through

four consecutive age grades. Because this section of the chapter is concentrating on

age and the family, we will examine only the fourth stage—ritual elders. It is in this

stage when elders“preside over the priestly functions of ancestral shrine observances

on the household level, at subclan meetings, at semiannual community appeals, and

rites initiation into the various age grades.”^139 In addition to these special roles

granted to the elders, it is also believed that, because of their age, they possess

“power as sorcerers and expungers of witchcraft.”^140

American Indian

Before concluding this section, let us mention two co-cultures within the United States.

We begin with American Indian families. As is the case with all the families we have

examined, any cultural generalizations need a series of disclaimers. For example, Ameri-

can Indians are a very heterogeneous co-culture. Not only are there approximately 500

different tribes, but you also find dissimilarity between those American Indians who live

on reservations and those who have relocated to urban areas.^141 However, in spite of

these differences, attitudes involving the elderly have remained in place for hundreds

of years. At the heart of those views is the same positive perception of the elderly

that we have seen in other cultures typified by extended families. There is a deep and

clear deference and respect regarding the elderly within American Indian culture—a

respect and admiration that can be traced to that culture’s deep structure. This respect

is seen in everything from their offering advice and care for grandchildren to being

served first and also occupying special seats at the table.^142 The elderly are part of the

decision-making process and are also responsible for transmitting the collective

REMEMBER THIS

Across cultures there are significant cultural differences in both

the perception and treatment of the elderly.

The Elderly 95

Copyright 2017 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).