Ageism is discrimination and prejudice against people based on their age. Ageism may include stereotyping based on age.
My friend, geriatric physician Dr. Robert Butler, coined the term “ageism” in the late sixties. Unfortunately, we have not come very far in addressing it. Ageism permeates our syntax and sends negative messages about older people, especially women. Ageism is prevalent in the workplace and healthcare settings. Most recently, ageism has surfaced as a way to resolve CV-19 by policymakers suggesting “the elderly die for the Dow” or deny them ventilators and medicine because their lives are worth less than younger patients.
Ageism is a two-way street. It applies to discrimination of younger people, too. Employers may perceive them as lacking experience and may be receive low pay based on their age. Conversely, older adults may be denied promotions or may be denied jobs on the assumption that they cannot learn new skills.
Below are some resources you will find useful for explicit and implicit ageism.
Old School, a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism.
“Old School is a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it. You’ll find blogs, books, articles, videos, speakers, and other tools (workshops, handouts, curricula, etc.) that are accessible to the general public. Our goal is to help catalyze a movement to make ageism (discrimination based on age) as unacceptable as any other kind of prejudice.”
2. Changing the Narrative ~ Ending Ageism Together:
Janine Vanderburg, another anti-aging activist, directs Changing the Narrative in Colorado to change the way people think, talk, and act about ageism.
“Most people don’t even think about ageism or know what it is. Researchers also learned that explaining implicit bias—attitudes or stereotypes that we may hold and not be aware of—helps people better understand the problem of ageism, and reduces ageism.”
https://changingthenarrativeco.org/
3. The Old Woman’s Project, San Diego, California http://www.oldwomensproject.org/#
ABOUT THE OLD WOMEN'S PROJECT:
“The Old Women's Project works to make visible how old women are directly affected by all issues of social justice and to combat the ageist attitudes that ignore, trivialize, or demean us. We are a group of old women who use the actions of various kinds to achieve this goal. We welcome women of all ages who wish to join in our actions….. The Old Women’s Project works to eradicate attitudes towards old women that are patronizing, trivializing, contemptuous.”
Why are these attitudes so prevalent, so unexamined in society? Why do we find them even — let’s admit it — among otherwise progressive people?
Corporations indeed promote a consumer youth culture, that the “health” and beauty industries feed — and feed on — women’s anxiety that men may discard us when we no longer look young.
4. “Look Us in the Eye: The Old Woman’s Project” by Jennifer Abod
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNiqJ96qiEk&feature=share
Worth watching! Only 26 minutes! I want an Old Woman t-shirt! This group is fighting ageism in a major way. Aging is an exciting time, a power.
· “Why don’t you dress your age?”
· “So glad you’re still up and around.”
· “Oh, you’re still working?”
The Old Women's Project refuses invisibility and proclaims that old women are part of every social justice issue.
"Incredibly powerful! It encourages us to examine our stereotypes and prejudices. It uses humor and powerful images to convey the strength and brilliance of old women. Girls and women everywhere must see this film!" Lourdes Torres, Professor De Paul University
"Profane and profound" Lois Rita Helmbold, emeritus chair Women's Studies, University of Las Vegas.
"Vital for all people, perhaps most for young women such as myself because it is a positive first step in helping to prevent ageism before the personal experience of aging occurs." Meghan Boone, student Trinity College
Moving, passionate, and courageous, Look us in the Eye, will challenge your ageism and point the path toward a liberatory politics of solidarity with old women. M.Jacqui Alexander, Professor, Women and Gender Studies University of Toronto Best Activist Film, San Francisco Women's Film Festival, Audience Award, San Diego Women's Film Festival
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