"Age as Disease" - Summary

This concept, introduced by Fletcher, draws parallels between societal anxieties around hygiene and our cultural obsession with anti-aging. Just as the hygiene movement sought to eliminate perceived threats like dirt and disease, "gerontological hygiene" identifies and targets the “problem” of aging itself through a vast array of technologies, practices, and ideologies. This idea highlights how society's fear of aging drives the development and adoption of anti-aging measures.

The book critiques the pervasive notion of aging as a disease state, highlighting how this perspective fuels a multi-billion dollar industry peddling solutions to a natural process. Fletcher explores how this medicalization impacts not only our physical health but also our self-perception, social interactions, and overall well-being as we age. By framing aging as a medical issue, society often overlooks the natural and inevitable aspects of growing older.

Drawing upon the work of Michel Foucault, Fletcher examines how power structures, institutions, and discourses influence our understanding and experience of aging bodies. He analyzes how these forces shape policies, practices, and perceptions, often marginalizing and controlling older populations. This theme delves into the ways in which societal power dynamics affect the lives of older individuals, shaping their experiences and opportunities.