Combating Ageism: Reframing Our Views on Aging
- Ageism is defined as “prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age,” and it can affect people at all different ages and stages of life.
- Negative views toward aging can impact both mental and physical health, but a positive attitude toward aging can add an average of 7.5 years to a person’s lifespan.
- Through education, advocacy and making friends of all ages, we all can work to combat ageism.
What is something that every living thing in the world shares in common? No matter where we live, our occupations or our traditions, we are all getting older each day.
Did you cringe as you read that? If so, you’re not alone. While aging is a universal experience, it’s one that many of us don’t like to discuss. But while we can’t combat aging, we can reframe how we think about it: as a natural part of life that brings both challenges to overcome and joys to celebrate.
One such challenge is ageism, defined as “prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age.” Notice the definition doesn’t say “old.” That’s because ageism impacts all of us, at every stage of life.
Let’s break down the three main forms of ageism:
- Institutional ageism: Takes place in workplaces, healthcare systems or governments. For example, a healthcare system may have a policy that discourages older patients from seeking certain treatments.
- Interpersonal ageism: Attitudes or behaviors in social interactions. This can take the form of a joke or a negative comment based on age.
- Internalized ageism: A person’s own internalized negative attitude toward aging that applies to themselves. This can take the form of comments like “I just had a senior moment.” or “I’m too old/young to do that.”
How Ageism Impacts Us
Let’s talk numbers. The World Health Organization attributes an estimated 6.3 million cases of depression worldwide to the effects of ageism. And if you’ve felt the negative effects of ageism personally, you’re not alone — a recent study across the U.S. found that 93% of those surveyed who were between the ages of 50 and 80 experienced some form of ageism, which in turn contributed to negative physical or mental health outcomes.
But those negative impacts don’t just come from other people — we can also project ageist attitudes on ourselves. And these attitudes can in turn become self-fulfilling prophecies. When we view our aging selves negatively, we’ll often find our self-image and mental health are also impacted negatively. Physical health is also at risk — negative self-perceptions regarding aging are associated with a higher prevalence for heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and musculoskeletal disorders.
How Did We Get Here?
You might be thinking, “I have a positive outlook on aging, so these health risks don’t apply to me.” But ageism is embedded into our lives and society so deeply that it’s impossible to avoid it completely. Consider these examples:
- Have you ever been to a birthday party with “over the hill” decorations or birthday cards that joke about how the recipient is “so old now?”
- Have you ever heard someone say, “You’re young at heart,” “You’re too old to dress that way,” “You’re just a kid” or “You look so young for your age!”?
- Have you ever heard people speaking extra loudly to others, just because they look older?
- Have you ever heard doctors directing their comments to a younger companion instead of the patient, or speak to an older patient like they were a child?
Ageism occurs on a regular basis all around us, and one of the best ways to combat it is to recognize it when it does happen and speak up against it when we can.
So How Do We Do That?
A positive attitude toward aging can add an average of 7.5 years to a person’s lifespan. Coupled with things like exercise and a balanced diet, these mindset shifts can do a lot to not only make one’s life longer, but also healthier.
How can you build and maintain that positive attitude? There are several ways:
- Read! Check out our booklist and discover recommended books on aging, challenging ageism and reframing negative perceptions.
- Build intergenerational friendships. Connecting with people of different ages is a powerful way to gain new perspectives and share your own.
- Advocate — whether it’s through verbal or online conversations, volunteering or writing, we can all combat ageism in some form.
Now that you know what to look for, you can start identifying ageism in your daily interactions — even if you don’t speak up directly, recognizing and challenging ageism for yourself is an important step. In the words of writer and activist Ashton Applewhite, “Aging isn’t a problem or disease. Aging is living.”
Special thanks to Road Scholar Kerri A. for her contributions to this blog post.
Interested in delving more into the topic of aging and engaging in further conversations surrounding ageism? Take a look at our Age Well lecture series.
