What displays ageism? Recognizing and understanding age-based bias

According to a 2022 JAMA Network Open study, 93.4% of U.S. adults aged 50 to 80 reported regularly experiencing one or more forms of everyday ageism. Understanding what displays ageism is the first step toward mitigating its harmful effects on individuals and society.

Quick Summary

Ageism is displayed through pervasive stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination based on age, manifesting in everyday interactions, media portrayal, and institutional practices, such as in healthcare and the workplace.

Key Points

• Prevalence: Everyday ageism is highly prevalent, with a JAMA study reporting that over 93% of U.S. adults aged 50–80 years have experienced it.

• Types: Ageism can be institutional (policies), interpersonal (between individuals), or internalized (negative self-perceptions).

• Workplace Barriers: Signs of ageism in the workplace include hiring bias, microaggressions, reduced training opportunities, and forced retirement.

• Healthcare Harms: In healthcare, ageism can lead to dismissive diagnoses, over- or under-treatment, and excluding older adults from critical research.

• Combating Bias: Actionable steps to fight ageism include education, speaking up against stereotypes, promoting intergenerational connection, and advocating for inclusive policies.

• Inclusive Language: Using respectful, specific language like 'older adults' instead of 'elderly' or 'seniors' helps promote a more positive view of aging.

• Mental Health Impact: Internalized ageism can significantly harm mental health, leading to negative self-perceptions and self-limiting behaviors.

Understanding the Three Forms of Ageism

Ageism is a widespread prejudice that can be categorized into three distinct forms: institutional, interpersonal, and internalized. These forms often overlap, creating a complex and damaging cycle for individuals and society.

Institutional Ageism

This type of ageism is deeply embedded in the policies, practices, and rules of institutions, often unintentionally discriminating against older adults. It is evident in practices that perpetuate inequality based on age, such as:

• Mandatory retirement policies that force capable, experienced employees to leave the workforce.
• Exclusion of older adults from clinical trials for medications, leading to a lack of safety data for a significant portion of the population.
• High school graduation date requirements on job applications, which can subtly screen out older candidates.
• Websites and technologies that are not designed to be accessible for those with potential visual or hearing impairments.

Interpersonal Ageism

This form of ageism occurs in interactions between individuals. It includes the countless verbal and nonverbal indignities that convey hostility or a lack of respect toward an older person. Some examples are:

• Using 'elderspeak' or 'baby talk' when addressing an older adult, assuming they cannot understand regular conversation.
• Making condescending jokes about an individual's age or memory.
• Assuming an older person is technologically incompetent and offering unnecessary help.
• Ignoring or dismissing an older person during a conversation, speaking instead to their younger companion.

Internalized Ageism

This occurs when individuals internalize the negative beliefs and stereotypes about aging, applying them to themselves. It can lead to a negative self-perception that is detrimental to physical and mental health. Individuals engaging in self-directed ageism might:

• Dismiss treatable health issues as 'just a normal part of getting old.'
• Use self-deprecating humor about their age, reinforcing negative stereotypes.
• Refrain from pursuing new hobbies, skills, or social activities because they feel they are 'too old.'
• Blame minor forgetfulness on their age rather than external factors.

Ageism in the Workplace: A Significant Barrier

The professional world is one of the most common arenas where ageism is displayed, creating significant barriers for both younger and older workers, though older workers are more frequently affected. According to Age Without Limits research, ageism is a key barrier for older workers, with nearly half a million people aged 50-64 out of work but wanting to return.

Some common signs of workplace ageism include:

• Hiring Bias: Job descriptions using phrases like 'digital native' or 'recent graduate' that discourage older applicants. Recruiters may also reject a candidate as 'overqualified' to mask age discrimination.
• Microaggressions: Subtle but damaging comments like 'It's amazing you still work at your age!' or 'Don't worry, I'll handle that tech stuff.'
• Reduced Opportunities: Older employees are often overlooked for training, career development, and promotions, with the assumption that they are less capable or will retire soon.
• Forced Retirement: Encouraging or forcing older, highly experienced employees into retirement to make way for a younger, often lower-paid workforce.

Ageism in Healthcare: A Threat to Well-being

Ageism in healthcare can have grave consequences for the well-being of older adults. It undermines the quality of care and creates systemic barriers to effective treatment. The World Health Organization has reported that ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes.

Signs of healthcare ageism include:

• Dismissal of Symptoms: A provider might attribute a patient's symptoms of pain, fatigue, or depression to 'just getting old' rather than conducting a proper diagnosis.
• Over- and Under-treatment: Some patients may be undertreated for conditions based on the assumption that aggressive care is not worthwhile. Conversely, some may be overtreated with unnecessary interventions based on age-related misconceptions.
• Communication Barriers: Health professionals using 'elderspeak' or speaking exclusively to a family caregiver, undermining the patient's agency and autonomy.
• Exclusion from Research: As previously mentioned, excluding older adults from clinical trials leaves gaps in understanding how treatments affect this age demographic.

How to Combat and Overcome Ageism

Combating ageism requires a multi-pronged approach, addressing individual attitudes and systemic biases. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Educate Yourself and Others: Learn about the different types of ageism and challenge age-related stereotypes wherever you encounter them. Promote a more nuanced, realistic view of aging.
2. Speak Up: When you witness or experience an ageist comment or action, address it directly but respectfully. Silence can be interpreted as approval.
3. Promote Intergenerational Connections: Creating opportunities for interaction and collaboration between different age groups can break down stereotypes and build empathy. This is particularly effective in the workplace through mentorship programs.
4. Embrace Age-Inclusive Language: Avoid outdated, negative terminology like 'elderly' or 'senior citizen.' Instead, use more respectful and specific language, such as 'older adults' or 'people over 65.'
5. Review Institutional Policies: Advocate for the removal of age-biased policies in workplaces and healthcare settings. This could involve updating hiring practices or pushing for more inclusive clinical trials.

Inclusive vs. Ageist Language Comparison

Age-Inclusive Language	Ageist Language	Notes on Impact
Older adults, older people	The aged, elderly	The former is respectful and neutral, avoiding broad, potentially demeaning labels.
People aged 75–84	The old, senior citizens	Specific age ranges are more accurate and avoid grouping people into monolithic categories.
Working past retirement age	Still working	The word 'still' implies that working later in life is an exception rather than a valid choice.
Person with dementia	Senile, suffering from senility	Avoids stigmatizing, outdated medical terms and emphasizes the individual.
Experienced professional	Old dog, overqualified	Directly addresses age and expertise, avoiding dismissive or negative stereotypes.

Conclusion: A Pathway to Positive Aging

Ageism is a pervasive and harmful prejudice, but it is not inevitable. By recognizing what displays ageism in its various forms—institutional, interpersonal, and internalized—we can begin to dismantle the biases that limit older adults and impact society as a whole. Promoting positive perceptions of aging, fostering intergenerational understanding, and advocating for inclusive policies will create a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. It is a collective responsibility to ensure that age is a source of wisdom and experience, not a basis for prejudice.

For more information on the global effort to combat ageism, refer to the World Health Organization's Global Report on Ageism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common phrases that display ageism?

Ageist phrases can range from overt to subtle. Examples include using 'elderspeak' like baby talk, making comments such as 'You still work at your age?' or 'You can't teach an old dog new tricks,' and joking about someone's memory or technology skills based on their age.

Can ageism affect younger people?

Yes, while ageism more prominently affects older individuals, younger people can also be targets. This can occur in the workplace when younger employees are overlooked for promotions, paid unequally, or dismissed as 'inexperienced' despite being qualified.

Why is ageism often overlooked compared to other biases?

Ageism is often considered more socially acceptable than racism or sexism. It is normalized through casual jokes and media portrayals, and negative beliefs about aging become deeply ingrained over time. Many people also internalize ageist ideas, which can make it harder to recognize bias directed at oneself.

How does internalized ageism harm a person?

Internalized ageism, where a person adopts negative beliefs about their own age, has been linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes. It can manifest as dismissing legitimate health concerns, limiting social engagement, and having a negative self-perception, which can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What is the difference between elderspeak and respectful communication?

Elderspeak is a simplified, high-pitched, and slow manner of speaking to older adults, often with an exaggerated tone, assuming they have comprehension issues. Respectful communication involves speaking in a normal tone and pace, making direct eye contact, and addressing the person as an intelligent individual, regardless of their age.

How can I challenge ageism in a professional setting?

You can challenge workplace ageism by promoting intergenerational mentorship programs, advocating for age-inclusive hiring policies, and addressing discriminatory language or microaggressions. Ensure your organization's policies are fair and enforced, and base performance evaluations on merit, not age.

What is institutional ageism in the context of healthy aging?

In healthcare, institutional ageism can be seen in policies that underfund geriatric care or exclude older adults from clinical research. It can also lead to medical professionals being less trained to handle the specific needs of older patients, contributing to poorer health outcomes.