The theme of the Enem (national high school exam) essay submitted on Sunday (9th) was “Perspectives on aging in Brazilian society.” This proposal prompted candidates to think about how the country views this social and demographic process, and the importance of rethinking public policies aimed at caring for older people.
In that journalistic report, sheet is already addressing different perspectives on aging. The reports and articles not only discuss aging itself, but also consider the social, economic, and structural challenges associated with Brazil’s changing population.
According to IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) projections, in 2070 Brazilians aged 60 and over should account for almost 38% of the population. This is a leap compared to 10.9% of the total population in this age group, according to the 2022 Census.
This data shows the rapid changes in Brazil’s demographics and points to the need for adaptive policies for this population in the coming decades. Experts consulted sheet Underlines that population aging has a direct impact on areas important for a country’s development and future.
Financial and pension planning is one of the pillars of ensuring quality of life in the third life. Discussions regarding the future of social security and labor rules remain on the agenda.
Recent INSS anti-fraud operations investigating irregular discounting of pensions have added to the urgency to improve scheme governance and transparency.
Additionally, other discussions expanded the debate on the future of social security in Brazil. The sentence “Accelerating pejotization of the labor market affects social security” indicates that this labor model, in which professionals act as PJs (corporations) rather than CLTs (integrated labor law), is causing losses for social security.
This practice reduces contributions to the INSS and contributes to increasing deficits in public accounts. Given this scenario, the sustainability and balance of social security is now being questioned.
In addition to the economic impact, aging is also in the news. sheet Found in the health section. Reports range from habits and practices that contribute to active old age to research and studies on diseases that affect older adults.
Discussions about aging extend to Todasha’s editorials. sheet Expanding content for women. In this context, the topic is treated as part of women’s trajectories, focusing on social and cultural issues and transformations in this age group.
Discussions on aging were also given space in various formats. In the TV channel program “Como é que é?” sheet YouTube approached this topic by explaining the difference between ageism and ageism. These concepts help us understand the forms of prejudice and discrimination that older people face.
The podcast “Modo de Viver” introduced the topic of aging from a practical perspective. In the episode “Is there a recipe for good aging?” we discussed how to prepare for this stage of life, both through physical care and the emotional aspects of this process.
In addition to the points of view presented in the different sections of the newspaper, the themes of the Enem 2025 essays were also anticipated in the two axes of the Folha Estudantes text series, which will guide bets on this year’s theme candidates.
One of the axes presented dealt with autism, disability and diversity. In this regard, Professor Sousa Nunez of Farias Brito University explained that Enem has sought to give voice to groups that have been historically ignored, such as people with disabilities, traditional ethnic groups, women, the black population, the elderly, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
Themes associated with this axis typically bring together three problems of Brazil’s reality: violence, fragility, and lack of public policy.
Another related axis was work. In light of the proposed abolition of the 6×1 system in 2024, discussions regarding working hours have begun in earnest.
This discussion is part of a broader panorama linking work and the economy. As a result, the accelerating digital transformation has changed the profile of the profession and required continuous retraining of the workforce. At the same time, an aging population is putting pressure on pension systems.
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