The other day I read the article Selbstverteidung für Senioren (self defense for senior citizens) in our local small town paper.
As I started reading it, I assumed this offer for a two-day self defense class was geared at senior citizens, this term usually defined by our current retirement age of 65, with several options for early retirement.
Then it said: Der Kurs richtet sich an Menschen ab dem Alter von 50 Jahren (this class is intended for people as of the age of 50).
This put everything in a different light for me, as I soon would be eligible for the class, with my 50th coming up in December.
To be called a senior citizen, while I am still a mother with kids in school, I would find perturbing if this were a common perception in Germany. But I hope this was just a single case of a young writer not knowing the changing demographics of society.
The Volkshochschule in Oberursel, which offers this class, is part of the Hessischer Volkshochschulverband e.V. As this is part of a public institution, I wonder if their recognition of 50-year-olds to justify as senior citizens would earn me a senior citizen discount in a restaurant? This is one of the benefits Germany still lacks – granting children menus and entrance fees at reduced prices, but not for senior citizens.
On the other hand, I can do without the discount right now. Just don’t label me a senior citizen when I am still contributing to the Bruttosozialprodukt (gross national product).
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