Guest editor and Insta Legend Cathi Rae asks - where are the 'older old' and the working class women? And is the Age Positive movement part of the problem?
Such a great piece and hopefully enough to start not only a conversation but to also hear from unheard voices. Thanks Cathie, for wrriting & Justine for publishing 👌🏽
Hi all. I've also received the following feedback from Dave Martin - I said I'd post it on his behallf. Thanks Dave! x
Message: Hi
I wanted to post in response to Cathi's excellent article but seem unable to?
Cathi makes really important points and gives a much needed reality check to smug, middle class complacency.
Here are few observations and comments to add to the mix…
Amazingly few people are fully aware of ageism as a “thing”, (outside the echo chamber of the “Age” sector). People are familiar with age discrimination but not the implications of how we think (stereotypes), feel (prejudice) and act (discrimination) towards others or ourselves according to age. There is very little discussion let alone awareness of the harm of internalised ageism.
Although ageism harms older people, especially as Cathi highlights those on low income, in poor housing, isolated and vulnerable, we tend not to focus on ageism as “othering” age across the life course. Young people more than old people report exposure to agebased discrimination. (Ayalon & Gum, 2011; Ayalon, 2013)
Indeed Ageing and ageism seems to be “discovered” at 50+ years whereas obviously we are all ageing and we know ageism is learnt from an early age; Children as young as 4 years are aware of their cultures’ age stereotypes. These stereotypes focus predominantly on the negative aspects of ageing, with older age typecast as an inevitable decline in physical and mental capacities and a period of dependency. Sadly, there is little being done with children and young people to change our society’s attitudes to ageing and combat ageism.
What might we do? We suggest being honest about how we feel about our own ageing and our own internalised ageism; (we are all hard-wired to conform with the social agreement that ageing is bad).
Are we the problem? Many older people collude with the stereotypical view of older people being doddery but dear, many still buy the ageist birthday cards to give to their peers denigrating not celebrating ageing. https://ageing-better.org.uk/blogs/ageist-humour-good-way-cope-ageing
We suggest using opportunities to have conversations with family, friends and work colleagues about ageing; birthdays provide such opportunities, check out the Better Birthdays campaign. https://www.betterbirthdays.org/
Lastly let’s start to focus on rooting out the beginnings of ageism with our children and young people; consider carefully our language about ageing, our ageist references around children and observe the books, films, media that children are exposed to, e.g. A is for Aging https://www.lindseymcdivitt.com/blog/
Let’s try to change the attitudes to ageing from an early age.
Again many thanks to Cathi for this insightful article.
This is a much needed look at what is reality for lots of older women and men. I'll have to work until I'm 67 and worry about my financial future a lot. Well done Cathi for raising these important points.
I wish I could like this post 1000 times. Such an important discussion about privilege, ageing, and the uncomfortable reality of the age-positivity movement.
Such a great piece and hopefully enough to start not only a conversation but to also hear from unheard voices. Thanks Cathie, for wrriting & Justine for publishing 👌🏽
Thanks so much Cathie! Will pass on your feedback to other Cathi ! xxx
Hi all. I've also received the following feedback from Dave Martin - I said I'd post it on his behallf. Thanks Dave! x
Message: Hi
I wanted to post in response to Cathi's excellent article but seem unable to?
Cathi makes really important points and gives a much needed reality check to smug, middle class complacency.
Here are few observations and comments to add to the mix…
Amazingly few people are fully aware of ageism as a “thing”, (outside the echo chamber of the “Age” sector). People are familiar with age discrimination but not the implications of how we think (stereotypes), feel (prejudice) and act (discrimination) towards others or ourselves according to age. There is very little discussion let alone awareness of the harm of internalised ageism.
Although ageism harms older people, especially as Cathi highlights those on low income, in poor housing, isolated and vulnerable, we tend not to focus on ageism as “othering” age across the life course. Young people more than old people report exposure to agebased discrimination. (Ayalon & Gum, 2011; Ayalon, 2013)
Indeed Ageing and ageism seems to be “discovered” at 50+ years whereas obviously we are all ageing and we know ageism is learnt from an early age; Children as young as 4 years are aware of their cultures’ age stereotypes. These stereotypes focus predominantly on the negative aspects of ageing, with older age typecast as an inevitable decline in physical and mental capacities and a period of dependency. Sadly, there is little being done with children and young people to change our society’s attitudes to ageing and combat ageism.
Cathi draws attention to a tendency to “age wash” ageing – here’s a link to an excellent blog if you want to talk about ageing then do it properly https://ageing-equal.org/if-you-want-to-talk-about-ageing-then-do-it-properly/
What might we do? We suggest being honest about how we feel about our own ageing and our own internalised ageism; (we are all hard-wired to conform with the social agreement that ageing is bad).
Are we the problem? Many older people collude with the stereotypical view of older people being doddery but dear, many still buy the ageist birthday cards to give to their peers denigrating not celebrating ageing. https://ageing-better.org.uk/blogs/ageist-humour-good-way-cope-ageing
We suggest using opportunities to have conversations with family, friends and work colleagues about ageing; birthdays provide such opportunities, check out the Better Birthdays campaign. https://www.betterbirthdays.org/
Lastly let’s start to focus on rooting out the beginnings of ageism with our children and young people; consider carefully our language about ageing, our ageist references around children and observe the books, films, media that children are exposed to, e.g. A is for Aging https://www.lindseymcdivitt.com/blog/
Let’s try to change the attitudes to ageing from an early age.
Again many thanks to Cathi for this insightful article.
This is a much needed look at what is reality for lots of older women and men. I'll have to work until I'm 67 and worry about my financial future a lot. Well done Cathi for raising these important points.
I wish I could like this post 1000 times. Such an important discussion about privilege, ageing, and the uncomfortable reality of the age-positivity movement.
Thanks so much Jo! Completely agree. I will pass this onto Cathi 💚 🙏 x
Really interesting piece!
Thanks Allie! Will pass that onto Cathi too 💚 x