Person with authority over others
The termElder, or its equivalent in another language, is used in several countries and organizations to indicate a position ofauthority. This usage is usually derived from the notion that the oldest members of any given group are the wisest, and are thus themost qualified to rule, provide counsel or serve the said group in some other capacity. They often serve asoral repositories of their culture'straditional knowledge, morals, and values.[1][2]
Elder is a role in an organisedcommunity, and is most common intribalsubsistence cultures,Elderhood is the condition or quality of being an elder, the state of being of advanced age and thus seen in active or passive leadership roles by peers and subordinates alike.
Sometimes, the role is recognised by some ceremonial investiture or milestone, while simpler instances merely select the eldest person relative to all others in a group. Elders are then generally expected to guide those beneath them, share life experiences, foster group unity, and act as spiritual embodiments of their communities.
Informal elderhoods
[edit]An example of informal elderhood is the role of thematriarchalgrandmother in many parts of theglobal South. In the absence of a male elder or despite viable males present, grandmothers in these areas tend to bede facto heads for groups of their descendants, and catalysts of periodic reunions and important meetings. They thus provide familial cohesion that would otherwise be absent.
Another example is the vocationalmentor, who guides apprentices with tools of sponsorship, advocacy, and skills demonstration. He or she serves to facilitate creativity in apprentices by passing on traditional methods pertaining to their occupation.
In more formal examples, elders serve as the members of a governing and/or advisory body for higher personages, such askings andpresidents, as acouncil of elders. This often gives them prestige amongst their peoples comparable to classicalnobility in Europe. Due to this, elderhood of this variety is generally considered to be an aspirational role in many communities.
In online communities
[edit]There are long-established conceptualisations of elders on the Internet. They are typically established individuals who are outbound, often due to unwanted changes they cannot prevent.[3]
Titles in different cultures
[edit]- Alderman in systems withAnglo-Saxon origins is synonymous with what may be known elsewhere as a “city councilman”. It derives from the termealdorman, meaning "elder man".
- American Indian elder
- Aqsaqal, meaning "white beard" inTurkic languages.
- Auncient, deriving from theNorman French nounancien, signifying "an elder". This has restricted use in English ceremonialorders of precedence, especially in legal circles.
- Australian Aboriginal elders are widely respected men and women possessing authority and a deep knowledge of traditional lore. They are consulted on any important aspect of Aboriginal life.
- Gerousia, meaning “Council of Elders”, was theSpartan equivalent of a council.
- Hor Chan, fromMayan language meaning "Chief of Chan", was a term someMaya used to refer to themselves.
- Kaumātua are tribal elders inMāori society.
- Oday is the term for elder in theSomali language. Elders hold an important position inSomali society, particularly within the framework ofXeer(Somalicustomary law) where they act as judges.
- Oloye is the title for elders of aristocratic rank among theYoruba ofWest Africa, though they usually translate it aschieftain.
- Onyishi is agerontocratic form of government in some parts of Igboland in Nigeria.
- Senator, in theSenate ofRome, all senators were men.Senator comes from theLatin rootsen- "old" (senex "old man"; compare "senior"), and senators were actually calledpatres ("fathers").
- Seniūnas, the ruler ofEldership, (seniūnija inLithuanian),Lithuania's smallest administrative division.
- Sheikh means "old man" inArabic. The word has specific cultural and religious connotations as well.
- Starosta, derived fromSlavic wordstary (old), is a title for an official or unofficial position of leadership in various contexts through most ofSlavic history (see also:Starets).
- Vanem, ancient ruler of anEstonian parish and county. From 1920–1937, the Estonianhead of state andhead of government was calledRiigivanem, meaning "State Elder". Today, county governors are calledmaavanem and parish mayorsvallavanem.
- Witan in Anglo-Saxon and otherGermanic traditions was awise man, although usually just anoble. The term is most often used to describe those who convened as theWitenagemot.
- Bolen, Jean Shinoda Crones Don't Whine. Conari Press. Boston. 2003.
- Gutmann, David. Reclaimed Powers. Northwestern U. Press. Evanston, Ill.1994
- Dass, Ram. Still Here.Embracing Aging, Changing, and Dying .Riverhead Books.New York. 2001.
- Jones, Terry. Elder: A spiritual alternative to being elderly. Elderhood Institute. 2006.
- Jones, Terry. The Elder Within: Source of Mature Masculinity. Elderhood Institute. 2001.
- Leder, Drew. Spiritual Passages. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam. New York. 1997.
- Levinson, Daniel J. The Seasons of a Man's Life. Ballantine Books. NY. 1978.
- Raines, Robert. A Time to Live. Seven Steps in Creative Aging. A Plume Book. New York. 1997.
- Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman. Ageing to Sageing. Warner Books. N.Y. 1995.
