The Friends of the Needham Public Library present:

Margaret Morganroth Gullette – “American Eldercide and Ageism Today”

Author, scholar and activist Margaret Morganroth Gullette will speak at the Needham Free Public Library on October 19 about “American Eldercide and Ageism Today.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Gullette argues, cultural bias and government abandonment resulted in disproportionate deaths among older people living in nursing facilities. She has termed this tragic public health crisis “eldercide.” She believes that “Nothing about it was inevitable.”

The talk will be based on Gullette’s 2024 book, American Eldercide: How it Happened, How to Prevent It. Distinguished psychologist Erlene Rosowsky, a Needham resident, will interview Gullette, who is currently a scholar in residence at Brandeis University.

Gullette will explain why she wrote the book and the choices she made in compiling it. She encourages attendees to read the book before the program to enhance discussion during the question and answer period that will follow the presentation.

Gullette, 84 and a Newton resident, is an internationally known cultural critic and anti-ageism pioneer whose prize-winning work is foundational in critical age studies. She is the author of six books.

American Eldercide: How it Happened, How to Prevent It will be available for purchase and autographing courtesy of Wellesley Books at the conclusion of the event.

This Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Needham Public Library. Registration is required, as we have a current capacity limit of 108.

***IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION E-MAIL AFTER REGISTERING, PLEASE CALL THE REFERENCE DEPARTMENT (781-455-7559 X2) TO CHECK REGISTRATION STATUS***