Testing the myths of aging stereotyping: Reflection through clothing and appearance related information in a compendium

Four myths from H. Kujath, U. Chowdhary, C. Schultz, P. Hasselriis, D. Venn, and S. Henson's (1992a, pp. 27-28) document were tested by analyzing a literary compendium, Songs of experience: An anthology of literature on growing old, edited by M. Fowler and P. McCutcheon (1991). Clothing and appearance related cues were used to support or reject the myths of aging stereotyping. The results indicated that only 9 of the 75 compositions representing novels and stories qualified for the analysis. Three of the four myths were not supported by the evidence. The evidence on one of the myths was controversial, depending on the perspective taken, whether that of a perceiver or the perceived. Several possibilities regarding the viability of extending this technique and results for future use are di scussed.