Elderly, old, or senior worker
a reflection through Erving Goffman’s Theory of Stigma
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/ce.v30i0.98500ptKeywords:
Aging, Social Stigma, Ageism, Job Market, Occupational HealthAbstract
Objective: To understand how Erving Goffman’s Theory of Stigma relates to the terms used to refer to elderly workers.
Method: This is a theoretical-reflective essay, based on sociology and the perspectives of specialists in people management and occupational health.
Results: Stigma related to aging negatively affects workers. Terms such as “old worker” reinforce prejudices that associate advanced age with declining productivity, devaluing accumulated professional experience. This prejudice impacts individuals’ self-confidence and motivation, in addition to hindering intergenerational knowledge exchange. The search for appropriate terminology aims to promote more inclusive and humanized workplaces, recognizing the importance of acquired skills.
Final Considerations: Combating stigmatization is essential to valuing workers. The study offers important contributions to the field of occupational health by proposing reflections that support confronting ageism and fostering more inclusive organizational practices.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Danielli Rafaeli Candido Pedro, Maria do Carmo Fernandez Lourenço Haddad, João Lucas Campos de Oliveira, Patricia Aroni Dadalt, Fernanda Santiago Santos Mendonça, Mariana Ângela Rossaneis Moreira, Maria José Quina Galdino
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