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Ageism, Not Always What You Think It Is

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The term “ageism” usually refers to a socially constructed way of thinking about people based on age, but it can have another implication entirely.

People think of ageism as a discriminatory act against older people. They see it as treating seniors in an unequal fashion due to their age in a way that is contrary to human rights law. 

Many countries have a Human Rights Code that prohibits age discrimination in employment, housing, and other human needs. This code almost always covers discrimination against older people.

We’ve all heard about the sort of ageism in which others scorn and belittle people who are old. But how about the other type of ageism, when young people are diminished, just for being young? Young people who experience this suffer from it, just as older people suffer from discrimination against them.

What if it is discrimination against younger people?

It can be ageism in reverse, in which young people, not older people, are discriminated against. They are hurt by it and they can be impacted on a deep personal level. The fallout from being set apart in this way can have a significant effect on the standard of living and financial wellbeing of younger people. This could account for some younger people experiencing a ‘failure to launch’, with the serious implications that live on for many years to come.

This form of age discrimination is often not taken as seriously as other forms.  However, it can have the same economic, social, and psychological impact as any other type of discrimination. It is a serious discriminatory act that is more systemic in nature, such as in the design and implementation of services, programs, and facilities.

What can be done about it

To combat ageism in any form, it is necessary to raise public awareness about its existence and to dispel common stereotypes and misperceptions about aging.  Aging is a highly individual experience, and it is not possible to generalize about the skills and abilities of an older person based on age, any more than it is possible to make assumptions about someone based on any other aspect of their identity. 

Human rights principles require people to be treated as individuals and assessed on their own merits, instead of on the basis of assumptions, and to be given the same opportunities and benefits as everyone else, regardless of age. 

It is unfortunate that this way of thinking pits younger people against older people. Many are not comfortable with this divide.

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One way to compensate is to recognize that younger people make significant contributions to our society and that we must not limit their potential. Of course, they should be rewarded financially and socially.

Will it get better?

Discrimination of all types varies from person to person, and for this reason, organizations often struggle to tackle these biases on a wider scale. You can’t force someone to think a certain way, but you can help them to better understand your position and perspective.

Negative attitudes and stereotypes about aging and a tendency to structure society based on an assumption that everyone is the same reflects a failure to respond appropriately to the real needs of both older and younger persons.

It is a lose/lose situation. What would help, as in all social issues, is to open up a dialogue about it. Airing grievances always helps and looking at it with a healthy perspective can make a world of difference.

I cannot say, with assurance, that I have not experienced age discrimination, Possibly I am simply unaware.

One type of discrimination for me, has been sexual discrimination. As a professional in a career dominated by women, I became aware early on, that men were favoured for promotion to an administrative level. It aggravated me, since I had a master’s degree in education (M.Ed.) as well as several years of experience in conducting a classroom, developing programs and giving professional seminars, yet I was overlooked when I applied for several principal and vice-principal’s positions.

What really rankled was the fact the successful candidates were almost all physical education (PE) “jocks” who had vastly inferior credentials! But that’s all ‘water under the bridge’, and I got over that years ago.

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