Ageism and Intersectionality Scavenger Hunt

Title of Activity: Ageism and Intersectionality Scavenger Hunt

Designed by: Sheri R. Levy, Stony Brook University, sheri.levy@stonybrook.edu

Audience: Open

Suggested Courses: High School, Undergraduate, Graduate Courses; Any Psychology Course

Ageism toward older adults is institutionalized in countries such as the United States. Reporting on the state of ageism around the world, the World Health Organization has noted that “ageism is prevalent, ubiquitous and insidious because it goes largely unrecognized and unchallenged" (WH0, 2021, p. IX). The purpose of this hands-on activity is to increase awareness and understanding of ageism and other isms and how interlocking systems of privilege and bias maintain stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination in a society. This activity fits well as part of a unit on social psychology (how social contexts play a pivotal role in how people think, feel, and act) and units in any course on stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. This suggested activity is an adaptation of Dr. Jill L. Coleman’s (Roosevelt University) “Social Privilege Scavenger Hunt,” which in 2009 was awarded Honorable Mention for the Action Teaching Award given by the Social Psychology Network (https://www.actionteaching.org/award/social-privilege). According to Dr. Coleman, the instructor provides students with a list of items to explore in a store (e.g., Target, Walmart) based on the instructor’s content goals.

With a focus on aging, ageism toward older adults as well as other age groups, and intersectionality, I have used a scavenger hunt list such as the following in a variety of psychology classes:

• Review the images of models for clothing in the store or online shopping. What do those individuals look like?
• Review the greeting cards section including birthday, wedding, anniversary, and romance cards and examine the words used and the photographs and drawings depicted on the cards. What do the individuals look like? What do you notice about birthday cards targeting different age groups?
• Review picture frames containing “filler pictures” of people. What do those individuals look like?
• Review the section with face, body, and hair products. What do you notice about the packing, advertising, and the individuals who are depicted?  What is conveyed about “ideal” beauty?
• Review other sections and products that include photographs or drawings of people such as bedding, air mattresses, houseware, etc. What do the individuals look like?

Just about any store can be used for this activity. It is not necessary to visit a store in-person. Individuals can complete the assignment by searching an online store. 

If students are visiting a store in-person, they could also explore the following:

1. How wide are the aisles? How high and low are items shelved? If there is a clothing section, notice how far apart racks are spaced and how high and low the racks are. Who is likely to have access to items in the store? Why or why not? 
2. How wide or narrow is the store checkout area? How high or low is the area to place items to purchase?  Who will be able to use self-checkout and customer service checkout?  Why or why not?

As part of a written assignment and/or as part of a class discussion, students may be asked to submit photos (respecting other shoppers’ privacy) or screen shots of the items to share with the class and/or be asked to write a brief reaction piece concerning their observations. Feedback from students suggest that the scavenger hunt raises awareness of ageism toward older adults and other isms as well as intersectionality.

Citation for This Activity:

Levy, S.R. (2021). Ageism and Intersectionality Scavenger Hunt Activity. In S.R. Levy (Ed.). Taking Ageism Seriously. https://takingageismseriously.org/

Reference:

World Health Organization. (2021, March). Global report on ageism. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240016866