What is Ageism?
Stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) are directed toward others or oneself based on age. (World Health Organization)
Where is Ageism?
Ageism can be in the media, workplace, and everywhere we go: deeply engrained in ourselves, relationships, and culture, and projected onto others.
Types of Ageism1
Interpersonal ageism takes place between individuals.
Example: A supervisor who refuses to give you newer assignments due to your age.
Self-directed ageism is when you internalize a negative attitude toward aging or your age group.
Examples:
You might start to believe that your best years are behind you, or
When you lose an item or forget a name, you blame it on your age.
Institutional ageism is when social norms, practices, and rules are unfair to older adults.
Example: A workplace that insists workers retire at a specific age.
Ageism in the workplace.
Example: Dismissing the capabilities or knowledge of an older and young adult.
Common Myths of Aging and Ageism
Ageism is only directed at older adults
Ageism can be directed towards people of all ages and takes root early in life. With our antiaging culture, older adults may be victims of harmful age-based discrimination.
Aging is associated with poorer quality of life.
Many older adults report a good quality of life, including supportive relationships, community pride, safety, and good energy and health.
Older adults are lonely and socially isolated.
Although loneliness and social isolation are noted as serious public health issues, it’s not necessarily an age issue. Other generations of adults also experience these challenges, including Gen X and Gen Z.
Older adults can’t learn new things, like technology
Older adults have vastly improved their digital savviness in the last two decades with a wide range of skill levels within the age groups of those 65 and older. Older adults can and are eager to learn new technology. There are increased programs for adults to attain digital literacy throughout the world.
Dementia is a natural part of normal aging.
As with other diagnoses, there may be a higher probability of the diagnosis as we age, but it is not synonymous with aging.
FYI,a 2022 study found that 41% of dementia risk may be preventable, with ways to care for ourselves and address blood pressure, weight control, and physical activity
Workplace age discrimination does not happen anymore.
Nearly 1 in 4 workers aged 45 and older have been subjected to negative comments about their age from supervisors or coworkers.
About 3 in 5 workers have experienced age discrimination in the workplace
76% of these older workers see age discrimination as a hurdle to finding a new job. Half of these older workers are prematurely pushed out of long-time jobs. 90% never earn as much again
Older adults are ornery and more difficult to get along with.
Overall self-reported happiness grows with age, with a striking spike among those age 70-plus, an AARP Research study, in collaboration with National Geographic Partners, reveals. The research shows this increased happiness is bolstered by a focus on quality of life over quantity of years, and the importance of relationships and independence.
Approaches to address ageism at any age:
- Lean into conversations about ageism, and possible misperceptions. Use these conversations to clarify the challenges and opportunities of these differences. Listen and ask questions with compassion to others while offering ourselves grace for our prejudices, stereotyping, and discrimination.
- Engage with others. Loneliness is a challenge for all age groups. Social connection, at any age with any age, is an opportunity to learn, create, and exchange ideas and experiences.
- Surround yourself with people of all ages. Volunteer, participate in an intergenerational program of your interest, join a community or a fitness center, engage in higher education, and find ways to exchange information and expertise in the workplace so everyone benefits from learning.
- Keep an eye out for or participate in educational opportunities, policy analysis, and program development to encourage intergenerational programs and cooperation in the community and the workplace.