U.S. stereotypes of older adults living with disabilities: How perceptions vary based on gender, disability, and older age

Abstract Individuals are stereotyped on the basis of their perceived identities, and there are rising concerns about ableism, ageism, and sexism in the United States. Cultural stereotypes of older adults (including older women and men) living with disability (LWD) are understudied despite their negative stigmatizations and consequences in different contexts such as in healthcare and employment. In this study, we identified and assessed these stereotypes. Students from three U.S. universities ( N = 401) listed their understanding of the stereotypes of older adults LWD, older men LWD, older women LWD, older men, older women, older adults, people LWD, men, and women. Data were analyzed using two established methodologies used in stereotyping research. Results revealed that stereotypes of older adults LWD and people LWD contained shared elements, as the top stereotypes listed for both groups were negative and many overlapped (burdensome, dependent, devalued, “handicapped,” mean, physically slow, sad, unintelligent, unproductive, and weak). Negative stereotypes of older adults LWD also included long‐standing stereotypes listed of older adults (deteriorating, sick, and mean). Gendered stereotypes also emerged for older men (financially stable and leader) and older women (nice) but stereotypes of older men LWD and older women LWD were more closely related to those of disability than of gender. Unique stereotypes also emerged, highlighting the need to consider intersectionality. Results can help inform much‐needed theoretical frameworks and prejudice reduction strategies aimed at improving attitudes toward diverse groups of older adults who may be facing poor health and discrimination due to experiences of ageism, sexism, and/or ableism.