Ageism is bias against a person or group on the grounds of age. When that bias is the primary motivation behind acts of discrimination against that person or group, then those acts constitute age discrimination.

The two most common forms

Although ageism can refer to bias against any age group, ageism (and age discrimination) are usually focused on two targets:

• Adolescents (Ageism against adolescents is also called "Adultism")
• The elderly

Examples

Ageism

An example of ageism is thinking that all teenagers like rock music, are immature and insubordinate, use slang and profanity, and watch R-rated movies; or that all elderly are slow, weak, senile, and dependent.

Age discrimination

Although like all forms of discrimination, age discrimination has always been a problem, it is most severe at present in the entertainment and computer industries. Many elderly actors, musicians, scriptwriters, programmers, and electrical engineers have all complained that it is difficult for them to find work, even though they are overwhelmingly well-qualified in terms of education and experience.

Responses

Grass-roots activism

Many groups have been set up in various countries to combat age discrimination, including:

• United Kingdom
  • Age Concern
  • Help the Aged
• United States
  • Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions
  • Gray Panthers: In the early 1970s, Maggie Kuhn formed the Gray Panthers, an organization with a goal of eliminating ageism in all forms.
  • National Youth Rights Association

Unions

Many unions have thrown themselves into the battle against age discrimination. At present, the most prominent example is the Writers Guild of America West, which since 2002 has been waging a huge legal battle against much of the entertainment industry to get rid of the age discrimination commonly faced by elder scriptwriters.

Laws

There are many laws against age discrimination, including:

• United States
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act

Further reading

• An in-depth look at ageism by Linda M. Woolfe, Ph.D., of Webster University
• Pro-Youth A firm text against ageism towards teenagers, presenting a case of ageism committed by a jury.
• Everyone deserves to be given a chance An essay against ageism towards teenagers, written by a Canadian adolescent.

• "The Older Job Hunter's Guerilla Handbook" A unique booklet that shows middle age men how to combat ageism in the job market. by Gunthar Manusson

See also

• Prejudice