Adultism is term from co-counseling used to refer to the "oppression of young people through attitudinal, cultural, and systematic discrimination against children and youth". It is also used to refer to any bias against young people, and is distinguished from ageism—which is simply prejudice on the grounds of age, not youth particularly. It is seen in co-counseling as the basis for all other oppression and discrimination in society, as well as for most psychological problems.

Examples

Personal/Attitudinal forms of adultism are present in the common phrases,

• “You’re so smart for fifteen!”
• “When are you going to grow up?”
• “Don’t touch that, you’ll break it!”
• “As long as you are in my house, you’ll do what I tell you!
• “You’re being childish.”
• “You’re so stupid (or clumsy, inconsiderate, etc.)!”
• “Go to your room!”
• “Stop that now!”
• “Don’t ever yell at your mother like that!” (yelling)
• “She doesn’t understand anything.” (about a baby)
• "You are too old for that!” or “You’re not old enough!”
• “Oh, it’s only puppy love.”
• "What do you know? You haven’t experienced anything!”
• “It’s just a stage. You’ll outgrow it.”

According to this view, young people face systemic adultism in the areas of incarceration, education, and military recruitment.

Outcomes

Research has shown that social stratification between age groups causes stereotyping and generalization; for instance, the media-perpetuated myth that all adolescents are equally immature, violent and rebellious. Advocates of the concept of adultism contend that this has led to growing number of youth, academics, researchers, and other adults rallying against adultism and ageism, such as organizing education programs, protesting statements, and creating organizations devoted to publicizing the concept and addressing it.

External links

• Understanding Adultism
• Resources on Adultism
• Adultism and the Roots of Authoritarianism