Discrimination based on someone's age is so ingrained in society that most of us don't notice it. Yet it affects us all and fighting it not only helps make a better society, it also helps us live longer, healthier lives.
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Or maybe the politicians and rich of this world are sucking up all the money and pitching young and old against each other, this certainly happened in the UK
Yes. We need old people have even more of an advantage. It's not enough that their generation is the last to have a social support. To be be able to purchase housing. Or cars. Or education. Please, leftists, let's give these old fucks even more of our labor and take on even more responsibility.
I think those are all relevant factors in leadership.
But energy, enthusiasm, a fresh perspective, and having incentive for long-term goals rather than only short-term, as well as ability to physically survive duration of term, are also relevant factors.
I just don't find that the youth are exactly OVERREPRESENTED in government these days, though decisions are being made that have catastrophic implications for them.
They are, at least seen. My recent experiences at age 68 - hair turned white, slower walking pace - appear to be invisible while crossing streets, standing at store counters etc… just sayin’ 🤦♀️
one million percent
the elderly who make up so much of our political establishment and really (as a natural course) have entrenched themselves in every field of society are crying foul while actively ignoring and debasing the pleas of the young
And to acknowledge this doesn't mean disregarding discrimination against older generations. This is not a zero sum game. But it is undeniable that the gatekeepers of the political parties are skewing far older than in the past, and have actively blocked development of young leadership. USSC as well
the people in power have created a system whereby we must be employed in order to be housed, fed, and given healthcare
that is what is significant about that
To identify mere caution in the decisionmaking of the very young and very old is not ageism.
But it is difficult to defend the sunset of the careers of Dianne Feinstein, RBGinsberg and Joe Biden. And the roles Schumer and Pelosi played in all of this while freezing out capable young alternatives.
Understand that "Young people are discriminated against" doesn't mean "Old people aren't discriminated against" and we won't assume "all discrimination is bad" means "shut up, you kids know nothing"
I should stop including myself among the youth though lol
I think you know this already :) but your message is and should be completely independent of your own age. It is in everyone's best interest to have representation that reflects who is being governed, skewing neither old nor young.
1) This ignores the lead-paint-generations lack of grace especially in service industries settings. They have the stereotype of being crotchety for a reason.
2) If the most visible of the aged in our government showed concern for the young in policies maybe the sentiment would be returned more
As an older person who would like to consider "retiring" from my job of 40 years with the possibility of taking on something new and interesting, I know it will not happen if I leave it to others to hire me at my age. I am fairly certain that I'd have to make my own way which precludes many options.
The biggest issue with fighting ageism is that older people love it, cling to it, and fight tooth and nail to keep it. How do you combat MOST news sources skewing older viewers away from the beliefs of the young?
How do you combat horrible choices made by elderly politicians that hurt the elderly?
I'm in my late 50s and I don't give a rat's ass if young people discount me socially. What worries me is losing my job and ending up living on the street. Or getting an illness I can't afford. Which are the same things that worry young people.
One in four people living on the street is over 55. If you are mad that "boomers" are hoarding wealth and won't retire, your problem is with hoarders, not older people.
Interesting… Ageism can suck indeed. But I see it both ways. Fighting ageism can also be a refusal to acknowledge that we ARE indeed older. That’s what some of the views in this piece sound like.
Can we fix it? I don't believe it. They'll always find an excuse not to hire someone who is significantly older than the interviewers. I've eventually switched to contracting, because who can believe (or understand) a 70+ someone who can do stuff not worse than them. It's incurable.
Ageism's the "ism" in the closet.One only needs witness the endless holiday related jabs at parents & grandparents on this very platform.The same people who'd take umbrage at other "isms" have no problem at all engaging in both casual and vitrioloic ageism. And will defend doing so tooth & nail.
thinking that the worst form of ageism is the impact on seeking employment. Being downsized in your 50-60’s is a steep climb. Settling for less than you feel capable of is par for the course, if you’re lucky enough to find that. Coaxing employers into bringing older workers onboard is a tough sell
I don't want anyone to fall between the cracks, especially after working their entire lives. I think the best solution is to enable people to actually retire without having to work.
Media coverage of both Biden and Trump? One is too old while other is so young and can’t have mental & physical decline. Fuck the media. Gasp of a dying industry of self absorbed individuals.
Oh, poor Old People... They only control the literal fucking world. Bite me, the Ageism against the Young is far more widespread and relevant. Children are treated like property by society, and then they can be sent to war at 18 but can't have a beer or smoke? Really?
No the problem is that old cunt decided to cling to power to the detriment of everyone around him and had to be put through a humiliation conga line to even consider turning a decisive defeat in 2024 into a close republican win
we need to make it easy for regular-ass people to retire a decade before life expectancy. pensions used to cover this but those were gutted; in our current system most regular people end up working until they die.
If the “not old” have so much to offer, where are they? I don’t see them or hear them, except perhaps whining on SM. Are you waiting to have power or change handed to you? Are you waiting for leadership? What are you waiting for?
Weird timing for this story just as both parties are getting—rightly—lambasted for leaving the levers of power in the trembling and liver-spotted hands of the #FossilCaucus.
I feel very seen; it’s annoying to be diminished as you get older. Corporate dismissiveness is twice as bad. I’m all for passing the torch to the next generation but to be hustled off the field is unconscionable.
Everyone is being hurt in some way, none of it is okay, and we
need to deal with the root of the problem instead of dividing ourselves into groups asking for the same things.
Discrimination is ingrained in our society, and no one is innocent.
How about we start there and move forward as a whole?
One way to fight ageism is to live in Europe rather than the US. In Europe, age = value in many more places than not. In the US, if you’re not young and beautiful, companies won’t hire you.
I believe I experienced this around a promotion last year, and it really rocked my core. I’ve made peace with the fact that it happens a LOT, but mostly it has made me less interested in contributing at a high level at work and more interested in my own pursuits.
Meh, as someone who is liable to be a victim of this very ageism soon enough, people who don't have the expectation of 20+ years of life ahead of them shouldnt be making the decisions anymore
That assumes that, as you age, you don’t care about the future of your children and grandchildren. In fact, the opposite usually happens - people become more and more concerned.
You claim that and yet those are the people in charge and everything is either quarterly or on a two year schedule to mesh with constitutional requirements for maintaining a standing army. There is zero evidence of long term thinking coming from the gerontocracy
I have no idea what your first sentence refers to. I’m Canadian?
On the 2nd sentence, I agree govts (not generations) rarely think long-term. Largely because of the election cycle. Not sure what the answer is. Longer terms would risk inept or corrupt governments being able to retain power too long.
Age limits, the same as there are age minimums. If you don't reasonably have 20+ years of life ahead of you, you shouldn't be making the laws people who do have to live under.
I am going to be honest with you, in my own humble opinion without being sentimental of course, without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter from a distinctive perspective, I would like to say I have nothing to say 😂
Federal age discrimination laws only apply to those over 40. Step one in dealing with age discrimination, expand those protections to everyone over the age of 18.
What ageism? The most powerful man in the country is 81 years old about to be replaced by someone only a couple years his junior.
Leadership in the government is held by people until they’re functionally dead like Diane Feinstein. Old people need to let go of power and enjoy their end of life.
You're basing this conclusion on one field of endeavor, politics. If you examine other fields, you will find that ageism is widely practiced. You can start with housing segregation.
Yes, old people own property and have fought for a long time to prevent new people from building in their neighborhoods or moving in. It has caused housing prices for younger people to skyrocket. Again I ask, what ageism? It is the young who are discriminated against if anything.
According to who? Take care of your health and attitude and no one considers you over the hill. It starts with you, your own self image. So tired of people blaming age for being out of shape, for instance. No…stop overeating and work out.
i was being uh "satirical" ..(some get some don't)...I was also trying to make a point that by 50..lots of employers won't hire people
evan that age...peace..
However I believe it is very important that in fighting ageism we focus (for instance) on the fifty-somethings who can't get public facing jobs because of looks and not get wrapped up in fighting any movement to rid politics of 80 and 90 year olds.
The bigger problem with senator Grassley is that he has been doing the same job for almost 44 years. He served his country. If he’s not ready to retire that is his choice. But time to move on to another job.
Ageism most definitely exists! I was a non traditional college student and was denied entry into an academic fraternity. I literally had all the check marks to belong except I was too old to be cool!
Open aggression by upper management in the workplace is the worst discrimination I experienced before eventual retirement. There was an active attempt to "manage out" those of us who were of a certain age in order to bring in what they openly called "fresh blood". It was hideous.
Absolutely this. To be forced out and made to feel you offer no value is terrible. Surely there’s something between working until you are 90, and someone hustling you out the door at 60.
Or 47. It’s happening out there. I’m 52 and have dozens of friends who have had their careers derailed in their early fifties - takes years sometimes to find a real job again.
This article though misses the point. It is so vapid.
TBH, I’ve only seen it happen to women that young. I don’t doubt you at all. Having to work your way up that ladder again is literally a waste of time. Yes, this is a simple article that hits on simple-to-understand concepts, doesn’t confront the depth of the issue.
I’m not a white male whiner or apologist - but honestly all the people I know who are going months and months not finding jobs in their early fifties after getting aged out of jobs are men.
But also: my friends /colleagues who would admit their situation are mostly men lol so it’s not scientific 🤪
And women will take any job to keep money coming in the door. Right now, I could get a retail job, or work for myself. There’s no one willing to hire me at my age. They don’t want to sink the money into someone who may only work five more years. I get that; I still had a lot to offer where I was.
Just to interject.. I was just over 50 when troubles began for me. Colleagues also targeted, pretty evenly male and female, ranged in age from probably late 40s to early 70s, longtime employees for the most part.
I never resigned, but stood my ground to fight for myself and others. Sacrificed my health, tho, and eventually left the workplace on long-term disability. The company noticed I was still an employee when I hit retirement age, and “resigned” me then.
Not losing your job in your 50s to make room for people being paid half your salary definitely makes life better than being artificially aged out of the workplace.
I’m in my late 60’s - during my last physical the nurse was practically shouting while she was asking questions about my medications. I asked her to please speak more softly since my hearing was probably better than hers.
And we discriminate against aging women even worse. An older woman is seen as used up and worthless while an older man is viewed as "seasoned" or "experienced" and viewed with respect. That ris till they reason the invisible line to being seen as "decrepit"or inept "
I might or might not agree with you, but I have no idea what you're getting at when you say: "That ris till they reason the invisible line to being seen as "decrepit"or inept ".
Know the only reason I am gainfully employed now is the “half my age” boss thought I was younger. When she realized I was older than her mom, she made me wait 5 years to hire on as permanent. I watched so many GenY & GenZ come & go during that time. Had nothing to do with my qualifications.
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But energy, enthusiasm, a fresh perspective, and having incentive for long-term goals rather than only short-term, as well as ability to physically survive duration of term, are also relevant factors.
I just don't find that the youth are exactly OVERREPRESENTED in government these days, though decisions are being made that have catastrophic implications for them.
Also just sayin'. :)
the elderly who make up so much of our political establishment and really (as a natural course) have entrenched themselves in every field of society are crying foul while actively ignoring and debasing the pleas of the young
that is what is significant about that
Biden was too old to run the first time.
Sorry, but there are real biological differences in the brain due to age.
Nature is ageist.
But it is difficult to defend the sunset of the careers of Dianne Feinstein, RBGinsberg and Joe Biden. And the roles Schumer and Pelosi played in all of this while freezing out capable young alternatives.
Understand that "Young people are discriminated against" doesn't mean "Old people aren't discriminated against" and we won't assume "all discrimination is bad" means "shut up, you kids know nothing"
I should stop including myself among the youth though lol
That said, me too.
2) If the most visible of the aged in our government showed concern for the young in policies maybe the sentiment would be returned more
How do you combat horrible choices made by elderly politicians that hurt the elderly?
it's not "the young" or "the old" making that decision to hurt both groups
You should probably reread the tale of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
it's no good for anyone.
Generation Gaps: weapons of social division, exploited by marketing, by religious and political grooming operations.
A healthy human culture is solidarity. We're a long way from that good health.
need to deal with the root of the problem instead of dividing ourselves into groups asking for the same things.
Discrimination is ingrained in our society, and no one is innocent.
How about we start there and move forward as a whole?
On the 2nd sentence, I agree govts (not generations) rarely think long-term. Largely because of the election cycle. Not sure what the answer is. Longer terms would risk inept or corrupt governments being able to retain power too long.
The CORE ISSUE for ageism is workplace discrimination. People having their careers ripped from them in late forties / early fifties, discarded.
This devastates finances and wellbeing more than a “young lady” to a 72 year old 🙄
I think we can
Leadership in the government is held by people until they’re functionally dead like Diane Feinstein. Old people need to let go of power and enjoy their end of life.
Made many a final round of interviews yet they always said they didn't expect a man with 35 years in the industry to stay around another 5 years.
Being laid off = forced retirement.
evan that age...peace..
However I believe it is very important that in fighting ageism we focus (for instance) on the fifty-somethings who can't get public facing jobs because of looks and not get wrapped up in fighting any movement to rid politics of 80 and 90 year olds.
This article though misses the point. It is so vapid.
But also: my friends /colleagues who would admit their situation are mostly men lol so it’s not scientific 🤪