Problem
Gerontocide
Other Names:
Killing of unproductive agedMurder of the aged
Senilicide
Nature:
In societies functioning at the subsistence level, the existence of an extra mouth to feed becomes especially critical when that person is unproductive. Procedures ensuring the premature death of such people, whether voluntary or involuntary, therefore tend to emerge. Incidence:
According to a detailed comparison of ethnographic studies in some 95 primitive societies, infirm old people were killed off in 13 and abandoned or exposed to the elements in 9. Broader Problems:
AgeismHomicideKilling by humansAbusive treatment of the agedSocial disadvantage of the aged Related Problems:
Parenticide Aggravates:
Denial of right to life Strategies:
Culling human populationsKilling the unfitIncreasing productivity of agedInvestigating murder of the agedCommitting murder of the aged Subject(s):
Society → ElderlySocietal Problems → Destruction
Societal Problems → Crime
Economics → Productivity
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
01.01.2000 – 00:00 CET