BOB体育

GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� How does a researcher on aging watch tonight鈥檚 debut of ABC鈥檚 latest reality dating show, 鈥淭he Golden Bachelorette?鈥�

With equal parts anticipation and apprehension.

, a member of the whose interests are focused on the intersection of aging, sleep, and health services, will sit in front of the television with his wife, attorney Kelly Kaufmann, to see if the show highlights the brighter side of successful aging.

The pair wrote a commentary last year about the show鈥檚 predecessor, 鈥淭he Golden Bachelor.鈥�

They worried that television has a history of too adeptly falling into stereotypical tropes about older adults, often portrayed as grumpy, out of touch, lost using new technology, and a drain on society鈥檚 resources.

鈥淓ven though we鈥檝e made great strides, we really do have a lot of work to do, and these television shows can play a big role in promoting negative stereotypes,鈥� Christopher Kaufmann said. 鈥淵ou see the harm done by messaging on TV. It becomes a reflection of society. It helps shape us.鈥�

Kelly Kaufmann added, 鈥淚t has reverberations and isn鈥檛 just entertainment. Someone is going to take that message and walk into the office the next day and it will influence how some people will treat others.鈥�

鈥淭he Golden Bachelorette鈥� is a spinoff of 2023鈥檚 鈥淭he Golden Bachelor,鈥� a popular program focused on a 71-year-old bachelor, Gerry Turner, and the retirement-age female bachelorettes he dated. That program was itself a spinoff of the network鈥檚 dating franchise starring much younger adults. By 鈥淭he Golden Bachelor鈥檚鈥� conclusion, Turner married Theresa Nist, 70. The couple divorced three months later.

This time, a bachelorette is the show鈥檚 lead. That woman, Joan Vassos, is 61.

In the commentary published last year in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society before 鈥淭he Golden Bachelor鈥� aired, the Kaufmanns said they viewed the show as an 鈥渙pportunity to stimulate the aging field and generate excitement about older adults as Mr. Turner and contestants step into the shoes normally filled by 鈥榯rendy鈥� 20-somethings.鈥�

It was an opportunity so long as the show avoided harmful stereotypes. Promotions ahead of the program were not encouraging, serving up a 鈥減latitude of stereotypes,鈥� the Kaufmanns wrote.

Producers jokingly described the bachelor, Turner, as sending direct messages on social media using postage. 鈥淗e gets the early bird special anytime he wants,鈥� the ads said. 鈥淚f you call him, he鈥檒l answer the phone 鈥� Florida wants to retire and move to him.鈥�

Lines like those made the Kaufmanns grimace. The show, however, surprised them once it aired.

鈥淚n geriatrics and gerontology, successful aging is a big thing,鈥� said Christopher Kaufmann, referencing the combination of maintaining good health, cognitive and physical function, and social engagement as one ages. 鈥淎nd that show just highlighted everything that is wonderful about aging successfully. They showed active people, really engaged in life and showing the benefits of aging and some of the wonderful things that can come from it.鈥�

Kelly Kaufmann said the show handled aging issues responsibly. 鈥淭hey didn鈥檛 make fun of people. They celebrated aging and the added experience it brings us.鈥�

She was touched, for example, by a scene where Turner and a contestant bonded over hearing aids.

They expect the same responsible approach from the producers of 鈥淭he Golden Bachelorette.鈥� Even so, they remain a little wary. They have concerns, for example, about the relative youth of the show鈥檚 female lead, 61-year-old Vassos, a widow and grandmother of three.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e selected someone who challenges traditional views of aging and brings a fresh perspective to what it means to be an older adult,鈥� said Christopher Kaufmann, an assistant professor in the 鈥檚 . 鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to see how media can explore aging in a more nuanced way, though I鈥檓 still cautious about the narratives they鈥檒l present.鈥�

In their 2023 paper, the couple worried that a show rife with ageism would hinder the field of geriatrics, even perhaps discouraging students from pursuing it. Their paper鈥檚 conclusion, the Kaufmanns believe, is as true for 鈥淭he Golden Bachelorette鈥� as it was for 鈥淭he Golden Bachelor.鈥�

鈥淯ltimately, the best outcome, if all players function together, would be greater respect for older adults, pushback on common ageist attitudes, and a reminder that everyone, regardless of age, deserves the opportunity to find love and respect.鈥�