The Silent "Ism"
I grew up in a generation where racism was a silent "ism". It operated in the background and pervaded the culture without conscious awareness or even a label. It was considered the norm.
Now, it has become more vocal and taken to the streets, forcing its way into our consciousness. Racism is no longer a silent issue, and our country is better for it.
There is another “ism” operating silently in the background that is just as insidious and dangerous as racism: ageism. Ageism refers to stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) toward others or oneself based on age. There are many forms of ageism, including:
Internalized ageism: How we feel about ourselves as aging people; and ageism in which older adults marginalize and discriminate against other older people.
Cultural ageism: The everyday, invisible, profoundly ingrained, and normalized negative messages about aging and old people embedded in movies, TV, songs, jokes, etc.
Implicit ageism: The unconscious bias that includes attitudes, feelings, and behaviors toward people of other age groups that operates without conscious awareness or intention.
Benevolent ageism: Patronizing, paternalistic beliefs or behaviors that older people need to be protected and taken care of by younger people because they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves.
Ex. Elderspeak When an older adult is addressed as if they are much younger and can’t make decisions on their own—the voice may rise to a higher pitch, and simple words are used and spoken more slowly as if speaking to a child.
(Appreciation to The American Society on Aging for the above four categories.)
In today's society, nobody wants to be labeled as a Racist. Similarly, we should strive to avoid being identified as Ageist by being aware of how we may be manifesting any of these aspects of ageism in our daily activities and conversations.
It was Awareness that brought racism into the spotlight, and the same can be done for ageism.