Field Journal

Both studies revealed the opinion of aging, one according to college students, and the other by the elderly. The college-aged study revealed a sharp contrast of views between men and women and their opinions of aging. Men were more likely to draw older men than older women, and their personae were significantly more negative than those drawn by females. Women were also more likely to draw characters of their gender, the vast majority of women drawing older women with positive/content personae. Women were more likely to draw wrinkles, and men were more likely to draw walking aids. These findings show that women are significantly more anxious about the degradation that occurs with aging, while men report less positive interactions with the elderly. The second study targeting the elderly revealed that the great majority of elderly people face the struggle to become at peace with their lives. These struggles are shown as themes throughout the study: embracing weakness and strength, embracing slowness and swiftness of time, embracing reconciliation and regret, and embracing connectedness and loneliness. The key to contentedness is to embrace the positive and negative of each situation, accept it as reality, and progress forward with life.