Ageism Awareness Day provides an opportunity to draw attention to the existence and impact of ageism in our society.
What is ageism?
According to the American Society on Aging, Ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based on age.
Ageism shows up in many ways, including:
- Internalized ageism: How we feel about ourselves as aging people; and ageism in which older adults marginalize and discriminate against other older people.
- Implicit ageism: The unconscious bias that includes attitudes, feelings and behaviors toward people of other age groups that operates without conscious awareness or intention.
- Interpersonal ageism: Ageist comments and behavior that happen between people when they interact. This can be implicit and unconscious or conscious. This may be negative, but can also come from positive intent, but still be based on stereotypes.
o Benevolent ageism: Patronizing, paternalistic beliefs or behaviors that older people need to be protected, because they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.
o An example of benevolent ageism is Elderspeak. This is when an older adult is addressed as if they can’t make decisions on their own. People may speak in a higher pitch and speak more slowly, with simple words, as if speaking to a child. - Cultural ageism: The everyday, invisible, profoundly ingrained and normalized negative messages about aging and old people embedded in movies, TV, songs, jokes, etc.
- Institutional ageism: Unfair age-based restrictions in laws, policies, and practices of public and private institutions.
- Ageism is one of the most widespread and socially accepted forms of prejudice.
- Ageism can impact us at any age. Ageism happens whenever we rely on stereotypes about someone because of their age. We are affected whether we face discrimination ourselves or it impacts those we care about and support.