Pandora’s box: What fears are behind the stigma of aging?

The stigma of a “silver life.” This chapter examines the issue of stigma related to aging by first defining the process of aging and different typologies of age, such as chronological and functional. Taking into account the Italian context compared with some other countries, it focuses on ageism and stigmatizing with words. To explain these phenomena, the concept of social representations (coined by Serge Moscovici) is used to unveil the common-sense thinking of both those who stigmatize aging and those who are being stigmatized. The stress factor of stigma can be dealt with in a number of ways, including through the diverse coping strategies discussed in this chapter. Among responses to ageism, intergenerational solidarity or social cohesion between generations stands out as a plausible solution based on norms and imagery of care, which both stem from societal values. Turning back to the Italian scenario, the vision of Joachim of Fiore, a twelfth-century abbot and mystic, sheds some light on the solutions to stigma of a “silver life.” His iconographic masterpiece, the Trinitarian Circles, represents multiple meanings, including the transcendent paradigm of the Trinity parallel to human history, divided into three ages. In line with Joachim’s vision of world history, we can consider the famous Table XI as a compelling representation of intergenerational solidarity. Silver universe or old age in this case would correspond to the last circle, interpreting the Trinitarian dynamism not only as a key feature of human history, but also in terms of relations between generations, where grace is more abundant in the old age of fulfillment. This revolutionary vision of aging directly challenges the stigma, not only revealing the falsity and paucity of negative stereotypes, but also giving hope and joy, rather than fear, to every human being faced with the prospect or reality of their “silver life.”