FURY rises up in me. Why is it that this type of ageism is still an acceptable norm? Would anyone in this day in age (at least on national TV) explain away behavior by saying, "Well, she's a woman, so what else can you expect?" Or, "Well, he's black, so I guess we shouldn't have expected any different." But it's perfectly OK to use age as an excuse for vile behavior?!?
Listen to me. This president's thoughts, actions, and intentions have nothing to do with age and everything to do with the character of the man. It's not that he's "too old" to change; it's that he doesn't want to!
This idea of older people being "stuck in their ways" sticks in my craw. The world is changing at a rapid clip, granted. It's hard to shift gears and keep up, especially in the realm of technology and information sharing and overload. But being older doesn't mean we have no capability of embracing change and learning new skills. (As an aside here, I read an article the other day that posited that the rapidity of technological advances has made "30 the new 50" -- even 30 year olds are feeling left behind when they look at those only 5-10 years their junior and see those "tech kids" out-inventing and out-performing them in that arena. )
As for formulating ideas, ideologies, and policies; as for seeking introspection and self-knowledge; as as for leaning into loving compassion, more skilled interpersonal communication, and deepening relationships -- what's age got to do with it???
Becoming an older person (which begins at birth, by the way) is not easy. Every step of the way we are changing and adapting. At some point we get to make conscious choices about who we want to become and how. This doesn't end at 50 or 60 or 70 or 80... or ever.
Don't let anyone (most importantly yourself) tell you your age alone defines who you are, what you think, and how you behave. It's a self-limiting lie.
At least, that's the view from here...©
Photo Credit: Totem on Facebook -- A local restaurant that gave me the perfect example of ageism in the public sphere. It's a little hard to read. In reference to switching to daylight savings time, it says: "I must be getting old. When I spring forward I land on my face."
Getting older inevitably means falling down? This sign is on a busy commercial district thoroughfare; it will be seen and absorbed and likely laughed at by thousands of people and the message will become "truth".
Trump's always had the same low character he's exhibiting to the world. You're right, he isn't going to change because he doesn't want to.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about our ability to growing and learning new skills until we die. Some people stop growing intellectually after high school,thankfully most people are life-long learners.
I hate the word "ageism" and it seems it gets used in different ways by different people so I'm not even sure what it actually means. One of the blogs I follow writes about it often and gets so offended by things regarding aging that don't bother me in the least.
I think of ageism this way, by this definition: Ageism is the stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age; ageism can take many forms, including prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, or institutional policies and practices that perpetuate stereotypical beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what other word to use and I'm curious why you hate the word....it must have a meaning to you different than that which I think of when I use the word.
It's very easy to get offended by innocent references to age and issues of growing older. I recall when I discovered feminism I was fairly humorless about it and people told me I took everything so seriously. I don't want to be always ready to jump down people's throats, but I also don't want to ignore and perpetuate stereotypes that don't serve us.
I do equate age-related discrimination and ridicule on the same level as that for gender or race. Aging doesn't bother me -- that is a reality we can't change, like race or gender. So, it's the stereotypes and assumptions that bother me and especially when they are condoned and even perpetuated by the very people they are aimed at. If we don't speak up for our dignity, who will?
Certainly a rich topic, huh?
I will add that ageism isn't only a problem of older folks...I think other ages have stereotypes too. Millennials are lumped into a "lazy, entitled" stereotype and when I look at my own young adult sons and their partners, nothing could be further from the truth.
DeleteI think the word bothers me because I think too many people my age are so afraid of growing older that they get hypersensitive to jokes and advertising aimed at our my age bracket. We can laugh at jokes about teenage hormones, childbirth, marriage, divorce, menopause and other life changes but we can't laugh at ourselves when we slow down and parts sag and back and don't work right anymore? One of the blogs I visit focuses on 'ageism' and maybe I just get an overdose of complaints about stuff that wouldn't occur to me to get touchy about? If you remember the Alexa "commercial" made by SNL---she hated it and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI thought that "commercial" was sort of funny too. And the one where the woman doesn't understand Facebook and posts pictures on the wall of her apartment. LOL Both were tagged "ageist", and I suppose they were, but they were funny nonetheless. I guess it depends on who's doing the laughing....
DeleteI wade through a lot of age-related humor shared through email. Most of it I flush, but there are a few that hit the mark. The path between gentle humor and something truly offensive is a slippery one. A lot of it comes down to: It's okay to laugh at ourselves but outsiders better watch their step.
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