“Manut-Pa”, “Manut-Loong”, “Dinosaur”, and “Tao-Lan-Pee”: Ageism towards Older Persons in Thai Social Listening
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study employs social listening as a research tool to analyze texts from popular social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pantip. Several keywords such as “มนุษย์ป้า” (Manut-Pa) and “มนุษย์ลุง” (Manut-Loong) were applied in the search. After obtaining the results from the search, the researchers conducted a content analysis to comprehend the contexts. The results of the study revealed the ageism presented in the social media in Thai contexts in negative and positive aspects. They can be categorized into five key themes, including 1) bodily changes (48.11 %), 2) beliefs and values (31.55 %), 3) thinking process (13.25 %), 4) social expectations (3.57 %), and 5) emotional control (3.51 %), respectively. This study sheds light on the ageism in Thai society as it appears online. Understanding this ageism helps raise awareness of the issues of stereotyping and discrimination towards older persons. Moreover, it assists in formulating strategies to reduce ageism and discrimination in society.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Butler, R. N. (1980). Ageism: A foreword. Journal of Social Issues, 36(2), 8-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1980.tb02018.x
Prasartkul, P., Chuanwan, S., & Thianlai, K. (2013). Elderly: Inner people to be marginalized. In K. Wachanasara & K. Archavanitkul (Eds.), Marginalised Population and Social Justice in Thai Society (pp. 105-124). Institute for Population and Social Research. (In Thai)
Barrett, A. E, & Cantwell, L. E. (2007). Drawing on stereotypes: Using undergraduates' sketches of elders as a teaching tool. Educational Gerontology, 33(4), 327-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270701198950
Puttummavong, N. (2020). Ageism towards older adults in families: A mixed methods research. [Doctoral dissertation, Srinakharinwirot University] http://bsris.swu.ac.th/hitc_fullthesis.asp?id_thesis=60199120019GRD8912560 (In Thai)
Powell, J. L., & Chen, S. (2018). Contemporary perspectives on ageism. Springer Open.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1977). Toward an experimental ecology of human development. American Psychologist, 32(7), 513-531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.32.7.513
Ismail, F. Y., Fatemi, A., & Johnston, M. V. (2017). Cerebral plasticity: Windows of opportunity in the developing brain. European Journal of Pediatric Neurology, 21(1), 23-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpn.2016.07.007
Park, D. C., & Bischof, G. N. (2011). Chapter 7 - Neuroplasticity, aging, and cognitive function. In K. W. Schaie & S. L. Willis (Eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging. (pp. 109-119). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-380882-0.00007-3
Hoenig, M. C., Willscheid, N., Bischof, G. N., van Eimeren, T., Drzezga, A., & Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2020). Assessment of tau tangles and amyloid-β plaques among super agers using PET imaging. JAMA Network Open, 3(12), e2028337-e2028337. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.28337
Fair, C., & Delaplane, E. (2014). “It is good to spend time with older adults. You can teach them, they can teach you”: Second grade students reflect on intergenerational service learning. Early Childhood Education Journal, 43(1), 19-26. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-014-0634-9
Lupou, R., Dorobanţu, A., & Fiore, F. (2010). A new lifelong learning model based on Intergenerational exchange: Premises and foreseen benefits. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2), 2761–2765. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.411
Gall, M. (2014). Intergenerational learning between teenagers and seniors with the help of computers. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 116, 1274-1279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.01.382
Liemsuwan, T. (2019). Ageism of working–age in Chon Buri province: Results of the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA)©. Journal of Liberal Arts, Prince of Songkla University, 11(2), 223-244. https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/journal-la/article/download/232790/159596/787512 (In Thai)
Stoker, L. (2015). Reflections on the study of generations in politics. The Forum 2014, 12(3), 377–396. https://doi.org/10.1515/for-2014-5012
Tanjapatkul, N. (2023). Generation clash: Crossing the conflicts of eras with Kanokrat Lertchoosakul. https://www.the101.world/generation-clash-kanokrat-lertchoosakul-interview/ (In Thai)
van Eemeren, F. H., Garssen, B., & Meuffels, B. (2012). The disguised abusive ad hominem empirically investigated: Strategic manoeuvring with direct personal attacks. Thinking & Reasoning, 18(3), 344-364. https://doi.org/10.1080/13546783.2012.678666
World Health Organization. (2021). Global report on ageism 2021. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/340208/9789240016866-eng.pdf?sequence=1
Duncan, C, & Loretto, W. (2004). Never the right age? Gender and age‐based. Gender Work and Organization, 11(1), 95 – 115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0432.2004.00222.x
Arber, S., & Ginn, J. (1991). The invisibility of age: Gender and class in later life. Sociological Review, 39(2), 260–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-954X.1991.tb02981.x
Krekula, C., Nikander, P., & Wilińska, M. (2018). Multiple marginalizations based on age: Gendered ageism and beyond. In J. L. Powell & S. Chen (Eds.), Contemporary perspectives on ageism (pp. 33-50). Springer Open.