Abstract
Despite high levels of racial disparities in health and well-being among older adults, curricula addressing how aging services systems contribute to or work to ameliorate these disparities are scarce. This paper introduces a module on inequalities and anti-racism in aging developed for an online course on aging services within a Master of Social Work program. First, materials that help students identify and understand racial inequalities in aging and in the programs that serve older adults are presented. Next, students are introduced to the applied context of how COVID-19 has exacerbated these inequalities. Finally, students critically engage in reflections and assessments of the available resources within aging services and advocacy organizations, providing recommendations for how these systems may better incorporate anti-racist practices. Challenges and opportunities will be discussed, including piloting this module in a virtual, asynchronous environment.
Highlights
Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health and well-being due to racism in individual and structural spheres, which have been amplified by health, economic, and social consequences of COVID-19
We can begin the work to reduce these inequities by training scholars and practitioners to disrupt the systems within which we work that relegate advantages and disadvantages throughout the life course and in later life by racial groups. This interactive symposium presents resources on anti-racist gerontological education and provides an opportunity to engage critically with peers in all stages of their careers and anti-racism journeys who are interested in integrating anti-racism into their teaching
An example will be presented from an online course module developed to guide Master of Social Work students toward recognizing racial disparities in aging services systems and identifying concrete suggestions for improvement
Summary
Older adults with intersecting identities as persons of color experience disparities in health and well-being due to racism in individual and structural spheres, which have been amplified by health, economic, and social consequences of COVID-19. This interactive symposium presents resources on anti-racist gerontological education and provides an opportunity to engage critically with peers in all stages of their careers and anti-racism journeys who are interested in integrating anti-racism into their teaching. The third presenter presents how anti-racist pedagogy, a teaching approach that combines racial content, pedagogy, and organizing, may be applied to gerontology education.
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