Neiman Marcus!

So last wednesday I went to Neiman Marcus right after school. Although I went with my mom I didn't want to enter the store with her just in case that affected my results. So as I walked into the entrance not one worker was in sight. I became part of a group of costumers that consisted of all elderly women and a few men. Many of the workers where really on the floor interacting with shoppers but as soon as I made my way by a group of employees all I received was stares and heard one of them whisper as I walked by "Are schools already out? Or is she just buying presents?" I was a little thrown back at this side remark only because of the fact that that one person only thought that I was there for those reasons, and still being noticed by them not one came up to me. As I was about to start heading to the door a woman came up to me and asked if I was buying for my mother and if I needed help with what to get her...really? Being at this store for this long thats all I got? Ageism I think really struck me at this store because of the age grouping they tend to focus on. It was definitely surprising to realize things i have probably been facing for awhile. The outcome of this store compared to last week's definitely changed and is bringing many curious hypothesis' for my next store visit.

Step one, complete

On Friday I finally started my project at the mall. I went to a very teen oriented store, Forever 21, to see what reactions I would get from the workers. Before I went in I saw that it was pretty crowded so I kept that in consideration, but what for. As soon as I stepped in the store a worker automatically greeted me, but what was more interesting was that a younger girl and her mom walked in before me and, spotted by the worker, weren't greeted...interesting. I realized so many little things I use to categorize as normal within the behavior of worker to costumer and specifically targeted costumers. Since I got such a quick reaction I'm interested to see how the following store will compare!

So here is the plan...

I am really excited to finally start the project! This weekend I will be going to the mall and stopping at Forever 21 and that will be my first step of viewing ageism from a different perspective. I also decided to go to Neiman Marcus next week right after school when it is less crowded and mostly filled with older shoppers. Next will be the Apple Store which I plan to visit either early Friday evening or Saturday morning when the teenagers aren't primarily inside. I have saved Toys R Us for last because with the big holiday coming up I know it will be getting busier as it approaches usually with moms on a mission to check off their kids christmas list, and I think because of this it may change the reaction I will receive. I'm anxious to see what different types of attention I get in these stores and share it with you!

My Final Project Over View

For my final project on ageism I have decided to go with the project I had posted about earlier. This project will include me going to different types of stores including Toys R US, Forever 21, Neiman Marcus, and Apple. I have chosen these four stores because each target a different age group. The timing of my experiment in each will vary for Toys R Us I will be waiting till it get closer to the holidays due to the fact that their biggest product genre of toys will be the most wanted. I will be going to Forever 21 during the weekend at night when teens usually tend to go to the stores. At Neiman Marcus I will probably wait to go early during the week days when elderly shoppers go. And finally I will be going to the Apple store at any given time because it usually is crowded 24/7. The reason I have chosen to do this experiment is to witness ageism in our everyday life and to become a victim of it in a very low circumstance. I will be taking my phone to keep data so that it doesn't raise any suspicion. Hopefully all goes well!

the start of something new

For the upcoming project in Sociology I am going to see how my topic of ageism occurs in our everyday lives. Although I have mostly talked about how ageism affects the working field, now I am going to be primarily focusing on how it affects everyone throughout their daily lives. I will be putting myself as the victim to see how I am treated in various stores ranging from stores that appeal more to the older crowd to stores that appeal to children. Being that shopping is something we, especially as women, tend to do a lot I think it will be interesting to see how I will encounter ageism, and the various tales it will hold.

Yesterday I had a doctors appointment and while I was waiting a woman around her late 30's early 40's came in for an appointment as well. While we both sat in the waiting room she was called and a woman within her early 20's came out in her scrubs and clipboard. The patient hesitantly stood up and went to the office window. As the nurse stood there I heard the woman ask for another nurse because being that she is not a child she would like a more upper level nurse assisting her. Annoyed the secretary couldn't do much but just shake her head and asked her to wait. Whispering under her breath the secretary told the nurse to take me. As she called my name I could here her voice shaking and quiet. I stood up, and as I passed the woman I of course gave her one of the "looks" that women across the globe have excelled in accomplishing. Once I got into the room I couldn't help but address the situation. She began telling me that this was her first job but not her first insult, she never thought people would be so picky when it came to age in a health office. She continued talking about how her college professor warned them in a joking matter about this but I just stood there in disbelief. How can people be so rude to do something like this especially to someone that holds the future? Once she finished with her tests she walked out and thanked me for my understanding and hoped that she performed her tasks as i had hoped. Once she walked out I staid baffled at the fact that this young woman, who performed like any other nurse I have ever had, had just been belittled of her abilities. If only the woman in the waiting room did not read a book by its cover she would have had the opportunity to meet such a skilled professional. 

Don't judge a book by it's cover...

This video definitely made me laugh, it not only gave us a view on how people are treated but a perspective to a brighter change against ageism. A lot of people seem to loose respect toward people once they hit a certain age or think we know more then they do. But to be honest we don't. People today in our society that have lived longer lives seem to hold the most history. I believe they are a source of knowledge and definitely a spark of spirit. Just because they may not have the same physical appearance doesn't mean they don't hold inside the same thing... don't just a book by its cover right? Then why not put that into action? Ageism doesn't only happen in the workplace it happens daily in our lives, people are constantly putting elders down judging them to be useless or handicap. These men and women hold so much more then what they may appear to be. Ageism is a harsh thing that constantly is shutting down lively spirits and helpful characters like these people shown in this video.