Ageism is a prejudice against older people because they are old. Like other ‘isms’, such as racism, it lumps a large group of people together and reduces them to a negative common denominator. To some extent, ageism has developed because of the separation between the generations. In earlier societies, older people lived on in the extended family and were recorded some respect because of perceived wisdom and life experience. In the recent past, it was thought that post-retirement people should disengage from life, a separation which has contributed to the ghettoisation of older people and the spread of ageism.

Read here about how ageism works, why ageism exists how it harms and challenging ageism. 

Ageism is extremely pervasive and permeates many aspects of society including government, the general public, and older people themselves.

The Employment Equality Act 1998 prohibits workplace discrimination on nine grounds, including age, though changing ageist behaviour and attitudes can be harder to monitor.

Ageist behaviour includes talking down to older people, according less weight to their opinions, needs and beliefs and even taking their health and welfare needs less seriously. One example of health ageism is when a physical or depressive illness in an older person is put down to their age, rather than being viewed as a condition needing attention.

Ageist attitudes include simplistic categorisations of older people as one group rather than recognising their versatility as individuals. Ageist language as in ‘old folk’, ‘senior citizen’, ‘pensioner’ creates a distance between older people and the community as a whole.

How ageism works

Ageism works by constantly offering the message that older people are of less value so that everyone comes to believe it, however unconsciously, including older people themselves. These thoughts and ideas become part of our world view and become translated into how we think and speak about older people and act towards them. As an older person you may begin to see yourselves as other see you, and so are diminished. Your confidence can be eroded, your potential limited.  

Why ageism exists

Why is society ageist? Research would indicate that we stereotype older people because we fear old age. We fear the loss of physical and mental ability, of attractiveness, earning power, status and independence. We seek to distance ourselves from what we worry might be our own future when we are older. And so we create what we fear.

Also retired people can be marginalised because they have left the workplace in a society that tends to see paid work as the work of only value, thereby relegating older people to a less productive role. Also today’s celebrity-ridden world may equate physical beauty predominantly with youth.

How ageism harms

Ageism harms older people because it can produce policies and practises which negatively affects their well-being.

It robs society as a whole because it can overlook the skills and experiences that older people offer and allowing them to be patronised creates a less just community

Ageism makes poor economic sense in moving people too rapidly from productive independence into a more dependent status.

It harms us all because it denies the reality that one day we too will grow old. The kind of life I fear I may have tomorrow is more likely to happen unless and until I begin to challenge ageist attitudes today.

Challenging ageism

• Challenge ageism by examining your own attitudes to people of all ages.
• Be open to friendships and relationships with people across the generations.
• Don’t accept a lower standard of living for older people - just because they are older.
• Question policies and practises which seem to stereotype older people and make them less equal in society.
• Watch your ageist language, and question ageist attitudes in friends, family and colleagues.