From Ageism to Age Equality: Addressing the Challenges ...

Marginalisation is very often the result of such discrimination, as is the case with the forcedretirement from work of people over the age of 65 (Palmore, 1999; Laslett, 1991). Forcing people toleave the workforce at a certain age, which in effect endorses the exclusion of a group from theworkforce and from earning money, can debase ‘their status in the eyes of their juniors, and aboveall has devalued them in their own estimation of themselves’ (Laslett, 1991). An important point toconsider is ‘those that write off the elderly are also writing off themselves’.Under-representation of older people at local and global levels and lack of positive steps to enableolder people to participate fully in social, economic and political activities also results inmarginalisation.Older People’s Experiences of AgeismResearch shows that many older people have experienced an ageist event (Palmore, 2001). The mostfrequent was, ‘I was told a joke that pokes fun at older people’. Others said they ‘were called aninsulting name’ or ‘were treated with less dignity and respect’. Some said that people ‘assumed I couldnot hear well because of my age’. While older people may be aware of being seen as ‘old’, they may beuncertain about making claims that they are actively discriminated against because of their age. Oneexplanation for this is that age discrimination can be obscure, subtle and may be difficult to decipher.Older People’s Perspectives on Ageism14Another impact of negative stereotypes and ageist language is that people deny that they areageing, internalise this denial and hence reproduce ageism. Older people dissociate themselves fromthe wider group of old people because they do not see themselves as old.Ways to Promote Positive AgeingThe concept of ‘positive ageing’ can be promoted by:recognising and challenging ageist stereotypesnot ignoring older peoplemaking sure organisations address the needs of people of all agesinviting local retirement groups to present workshops on age awarenessinforming agencies involved with older people of job opportunitiesmaking events and publications accessible to older peopleincluding pictures of older people in publicationstalking to people of all ages about how ageism affects them.Conference Proceedings