AGEISM

- by Suvankar Das

Stereotypes run rampant today, and bias based on age – like being ageist – is becoming a more measurable problem. Ageism is discrimination based on age. Ageism is often thought of as prejudice towards older people, however, there are forms of ageism that affect younger generations as well. Ageism can appear in various areas of everyday life and takes many forms. Ageism can occur in the workplace, the health care system, forms of marketing, and even online shopping.

Discrimination based on age has negative consequences that range in severity from financial losses to health problems. Ageism can harm your finances, and it can harm your health. Ageism may also shorten your life. Ageism affects everyone - globally. Ageism occurs every second, every minute, and every hour of every day - and fighting it requires changing our social norms.

UNDERSTANDING AGEISM

Ageism is a form of discrimination that targets older individuals because of their age. It is similar to racism and sexism and occurs in various contexts. People who discriminate against others based on age may hold negative stereotypes about them. For example, they might believe that older people are lazy, slow, inflexible, or unintelligent. These beliefs lead to discrimination against older people. In addition, older adults face barriers to employment, housing, health care, and social services. 

They may not get hired because employers think they lack skills or experience. Older adults may not be able to afford rent or mortgage payments. And if they lose their job, they may not be able to find another one. Older adults may also encounter problems accessing health care, such as being denied insurance coverage or receiving poor-quality care. Discrimination against older adults can take place in any setting where people interact with each other.

THE HISTORY

The term "ageism" was first used by gerontologist Robert N. Butler to refer to discrimination against older adults. In recent years, the term has expanded to include discrimination against anyone based on age. Although the impact of ageism is often considered to be negative, it can also be positive. For example, older workers may be given preference because they bring experience and wisdom to the workplace. However, older employees may also face discrimination due to stereotypes about aging.

SIGNES OF AGEISM

Ageism can range from subtle actions to blatant acts of discrimination. A few signs of ageism include:

• 1. Exclusion from a group, such as at school or at work
• 2. Being passed over for promotions or raises
• 3. Being laid off or forced to retire
  
  
• 4. Negative comments about a person's age
• 5. Having your input or ideas ignored or dismissed
• 6. Losing out on benefits such as paid time off
• 7. Not having access to learning opportunities

FIGHTING AGEISM

The American Psychological Association (APA) says ageism is a serious problem that must be approached in the same way as discrimination based on sex gender and disability. The APA suggests that raising public awareness of the problems caused by anti-aging discrimination can help. As the older adult population continues to grow to find ways to reduce age discrimination will become even more important.

There is evidence that interventions can be effective in combatting ageism. These include:

• Education: Intentional instruction that helps people better understand the aging process, ageism, and its effects
• Intergenerational contact: Increased contact with people of different ages to reduce age discrimination and prejudice. 

Aging affects health and well-being. It is important for all youth and adults to be aware of age-related discrimination and prejudice. It is important to take steps to slow aging such as increasing contact between people of different ages. If you are aging find friends at work or in your community for support and contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission if needed.