What can be done in society to combat ageism? A Comprehensive Guide

According to a World Health Organization report, one in two people globally hold moderately or highly ageist attitudes. To effectively combat ageism requires a multi-pronged approach involving intentional and continuous action at individual, community, and systemic levels to challenge harmful stereotypes and promote genuine intergenerational solidarity.

Quick Summary

Combating ageism involves a combination of enforcing protective policies, reforming media portrayals of older adults, expanding educational programs on aging, and promoting meaningful intergenerational connections that foster mutual respect and understanding.

Key Points

• Systemic Change: Advocate for and enforce stronger anti-discrimination policies in the workplace, healthcare, and community planning.

• Media Representation: Challenge ageist stereotypes by promoting positive, diverse, and authentic portrayals of older adults in all forms of media.

• Intergenerational Connection: Actively create and support opportunities for different age groups to interact, such as mentorship programs and shared community spaces.

• Education and Awareness: Increase public education about the realities of aging and challenge personal implicit biases through self-reflection and factual information.

• Language Matters: Be mindful of the language you use, consciously avoiding terms and phrases that perpetuate negative stereotypes about age.

• Individual Advocacy: Empower yourself and others to call out ageism when it occurs, both in personal conversations and in public forums.

Understanding the Problem: The Impact of Ageism

Ageism is a pervasive and insidious form of discrimination that affects people of all ages, though it disproportionately impacts older individuals. It is based on stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination related to a person's age. The effects are far-reaching, from limiting job opportunities and influencing healthcare decisions to negatively impacting physical and mental health, and even potentially shortening lifespans. A society-wide response is necessary to dismantle the deep-seated biases and create a truly inclusive world for everyone.

Reframing the Narrative Through Media and Language

One of the most powerful ways to shift societal perceptions is by changing the messages we receive from media and the language we use every day. Mainstream media has historically been a significant transmitter of ageist ideologies, often underrepresenting older adults or relegating them to peripheral, stereotyped roles.

Promoting Positive and Diverse Representation

• Show Reality, Not Caricatures: Media outlets, filmmakers, and advertisers must move beyond depicting older people as frail, incompetent, or senile. Instead, they should showcase the diversity, resilience, and capabilities of the older population.
• Highlight Contributions: Share stories on social media and in traditional news that celebrate the wisdom, experience, and ongoing contributions older adults make to society, from volunteering to continued career engagement.
• Challenge Negative Tropes: When portrayals reinforce negative stereotypes, critical evaluation and public conversation can help shift the narrative. Supporting media that offers nuanced and authentic stories about later life is crucial.

Mindful and Inclusive Language

The words we use matter. Avoiding ageist terms and phrases can help challenge ingrained biases. It is an opportunity to be more thoughtful in our everyday communication.

• Use neutral, respectful terms like “older adults” or “people over age X” rather than potentially loaded terms like “the aged” or “elderly”.
• Refrain from using self-deprecating humor about age, such as “having a senior moment,” as this normalizes negative age stereotypes.
• Question age-based generalizations, whether about younger or older people, as they are often inaccurate and perpetuate harmful biases.

Fostering Intergenerational Connection

Age segregation is a core component of ageism, as it prevents genuine understanding and empathy from developing between different age groups. Intentional programs and community design can break down these barriers.

Creating Intergenerational Opportunities

• Mentorship Programs: Pairing older, experienced professionals with younger mentees can facilitate the transfer of knowledge, skills, and perspectives, dispelling stereotypes about digital competency or reluctance to change.
• Community Centers: Design centers that serve all ages, with shared spaces and programming that encourages interaction, such as joint art classes or community garden projects.
• Educational Settings: Encourage intergenerational learning programs in schools and universities. This can be as simple as having older adults volunteer as reading buddies or guest speakers, sharing their life experiences with students.

Systemic Policy Reform

Legislation and policy have a critical role to play in establishing standards for fair treatment and protection against age-based discrimination.

Strengthening Legal Protections

• Workplace Protections: Enforce and strengthen laws like the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) to ensure fair hiring, promotion, and termination practices for workers over 40.
• Healthcare Equity: Support policies that promote person-centered care and combat biases in medical decision-making. Healthcare professionals should be trained to recognize and address their own implicit age bias.
• Housing and Community Planning: Advocate for the creation of age-friendly cities and communities with accessible public buildings, transportation, and services that support independence for all residents.

A Comparison of Anti-Ageism Strategies

Strategy Type	Approach	Benefit	Challenge
Reactive	Filing a lawsuit after discrimination occurs	Provides justice and compensation for victims	Can be a lengthy, stressful, and costly process
Proactive	Encouraging intergenerational mentorship programs	Builds empathy and understanding before issues arise	Requires consistent funding and organizational commitment
Systemic	Enforcing strong anti-discrimination laws	Creates a broad, standardized safety net for all	Requires political will and careful policy implementation
Individual	Calling out ageist language and reframing perceptions	Empowering individuals to drive immediate change	Can be uncomfortable and requires constant vigilance

The Role of Education and Self-Reflection

Education is a key tool for combating ageism by arming individuals with facts that dismantle stereotypes. The lack of formal education on aging is a significant driver of ageist attitudes.

Educating the Public

• Formal Education: Integrate information about the realities of aging and the diversity of the older population into primary, secondary, and higher education curricula. This normalizes aging as a lifelong process.
• Aging Studies: Expand gerontology and aging studies programs to better train healthcare and social service professionals to provide person-centered care and avoid ageist assumptions.
• Campaigns: Support public awareness campaigns that use powerful stories and images to challenge misconceptions about aging.

Challenging Personal Biases

Individuals must also do the internal work of recognizing and addressing their own implicit biases. This involves:

• Reflecting on personal assumptions about age and aging.
• Being mindful of the words used to describe older people.
• Intentionally seeking out relationships and interactions with individuals from different generations.
• As advocate Ashton Applewhite suggests, it's about shifting from a fear-based attitude toward aging to a fact-based one, recognizing the value of life experience at every stage.

To learn more about global initiatives and frameworks, consult the World Health Organization's Global Report on Ageism.

Conclusion: A Shared Responsibility for Change

Combating ageism is not the responsibility of a single group or generation. It requires a collective effort to address the issue on multiple fronts—from systemic policy changes to everyday interactions. By reframing the narrative, fostering intergenerational connection, enforcing protective policies, and dedicating ourselves to education and self-reflection, we can work towards a society that values individuals for their unique contributions and lived experiences, not just for their age. Creating an age-inclusive world means ensuring dignity, respect, and opportunity for everyone, throughout the entire course of their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ageism and how does it manifest in society?

Ageism is discrimination and prejudice based on a person's age. It manifests through stereotypes in media, exclusion from job opportunities, biased healthcare decisions, and everyday language that devalues older adults or infantilizes them.

How can I combat ageism in my workplace?

You can combat ageism in the workplace by advocating for fair hiring and promotion practices, participating in intergenerational training, calling out ageist comments, and demonstrating the value of skills and experience beyond a person's age.

What is the role of the media in fighting ageism?

The media plays a crucial role by moving away from tired stereotypes and instead showing diverse, authentic, and positive stories of older adults in active, meaningful roles. This helps shape public perception and combat ageist ideologies.

How do intergenerational programs help combat ageism?

Intergenerational programs bring different age groups together, fostering understanding, empathy, and respect. This direct, positive contact helps break down stereotypes that thrive in age-segregated environments.

Can I unintentionally perpetuate ageism?

Yes, many people unknowingly hold ageist biases picked up from media and cultural messaging. Using self-deprecating age-related humor or making assumptions based on age can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, even unintentionally.

Are there policies that address age discrimination?

Yes, in the United States, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects workers 40 and older. Other legislation and policies also address age-based discrimination in federally funded programs and healthcare.

What is one simple way I can start combating ageism today?

One simple and powerful step is to be mindful of your language. Avoid using phrases that reinforce negative age stereotypes and consciously use respectful, neutral terms. Educate yourself and call it out when you see it.