When I was in Social Work graduate school in the 1990s, I noticed fellow students, who loudly condemned isms like racism and sexism, exhibiting ageism in their casual comments and jokes about getting older. Perhaps I was more aware of that ageism because I was decades older than most of them.
Because of the news yesterday, ageism is on my aging mind again.
Do you see ageism in today’s images?
On National Stop Bullying Day, let’s stop bullying individuals and groups on the basis of their age — okay, news media and late night hosts?
Here’s what I find when I search for “ageism” on YouTube.
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Thanks to Ashton Applewhite, my Twitter friends, and all who are here for this ageism post, including YOU!
Yes, Ann, I do feel that my dear wife Karen and I feel more barbs from younger generations now that they think we’re older.
You’re not alone, Mark. 💙
I always looked far younger than my age (have had my ID passed around in bars in my 40’s), and developed a quirk for generally claiming to be a year older than I was. I.e., past the midpoint of my 40th year, I claimed 41. I still do that, the only caveat being that I might not survive to reach 81 (but it’s beginning to look as if I might 🙂 and I suppose that next August I will start claiming 82. I’m no longer to be seen in bars, but if I were, my ID would not be passed around in amazement. Sigh.
Thanks for your wisdom, Barbara.
Yes, I’ve experienced it firsthand-
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I have also experienced it! No doubt! And “yesterday’s news” has me fuming!! Thank you for addressing it. ❤️
Thank you for sharing your experience, my friend.
Sometimes when I look back at pictures of people in the 18th century I see young men and women wearing white wigs and carrying canes because, I think, they wanted to look older. It was “the age of reason” and the wisdom that came with age was respected, even revered. It’s one old idea I think we should bring back. Minus the wigs, though.
Thanks for your reasonable ideas, Chris.
Because of ageism, we will never run out of causes to work on, especially as we get older. I am confident that we are up to this task because we are pretty impressive!
We are pretty impressive, Maureen!
Ann, so many of the twitter comments were so insightful and inspiring. Thank you for asking the question. You have such good people following you.
And you’re one of them, Jason! 💙
Why do people need to be so cruel? Ageism should not even be a thing! X
I’m with you, Carol Anne.