Think about the commercials you see on television or the ads in magazines. Many of them claim to make people look younger, feel younger, act younger, etc. These products range from cosmetics to vitamins to hair implants! What about the way older adults are portrayed on television shows or even in articles? Often these people are incapacitated in some way, forgetful, grouchy, etc. While this is true for some older adults, it is also true for people of other ages as well. So, why is there such a push to be younger? Is being old somehow bad? That’s the subliminal message being sent by our society. When we stereotype or discriminate against individuals or groups on the basis of their age, it is called ageism.
Most of us would be horrified to think that we were guilty of ageism, but how often do we make casual jokes about someone being older or send a birthday card that has a derogatory comment about getting older? Think for a moment about comments such as “having a senior moment” or “looking good for his or her age.” How would you feel if another group of people was substituted? We wouldn’t tolerate someone saying, “He or she looks good despite being Jewish.” So yes, even our casual comments are ageism, and they reflect an ongoing attitude about ageing that needs to be changed.
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Currently, 10,000 people EVERY DAY are turning 65, which is bringing new light to the issue of ageism. Many of those people want or need to continue working, but are being pushed out of the workforce. When cuts must be made, the company considers the older workers first because they are probably going to retire soon any way or claiming that their ideas are outdated. When hiring new employees they look for recent college graduates to bring renewed energy and new ideas. Yes, this discrimination is illegal, but proving it is extremely difficult.
Ageism pervades our society—even the church. Many churches want a younger pastor in hopes that he or she will attract young families, thus bringing new life to the congregation. They fail to consider the value of years of experience and training that come with a seasoned pastor, who also will probably not be trying to balance the needs of a young family with pastoral responsibilities.
So, how do we combat ageism? The first step is becoming aware of it. A second step is not allowing ourselves to reinforce the attitudes about age that have been ingrained throughout our lives. A third step would be to look at the gifts, talents, and experiences of all the people in your life (family, colleagues, church, etc.). Value those gifts and provide opportunities for them to be used.
Life is a gift to be celebrated, regardless of a person’s age.
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