Seniors Network

Ageism occurs in many different forms.  We brainstormed and came up with the following examples:

 

• Black balloon parties
• “You don’t look 40” (or any other age)
• Doctors not taking older patients
• Terms like “elderly,” “aged,” and “greedy geezers”
• Limited positive roles in TV and movies for older people
• People in their 20s being told they are too young to work with seniors
• The assumption that young people are computer whizzes and older people are computer-phobic
• Cosmetics focused on anti-aging
• The notion that mental ability declines with aging
• Old people are bored (not to mention boring)
• Lower ticket costs for older adults at the movies

 

 The EEOC receives 16,000 age-discrimination claims each year.  In corporate America, ageism can also take the form of:

 

• Underutilization of older or younger workers
• Not providing older workers training and development
• No longer promoting or selecting older workers for opportunities
• Providing internships for younger workers only
• Downsizing high earners regardless of performance
• Hiring younger workers at less than market pay
• Freezing salaries for older workers

If you have other examples, please add them to the list by posting a comment.  The more we are aware of ageism, the more prepared we can be to combat it.

 As a related resource, check out our September newsletter that looks at the cultural stereotypes that are visible in advertising and the effect that negative ads have on the older adult.  Also view the factual evidence that dispels the perception that mature workers lose value over time in the workplace.