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We often use phrases like "Age Empowering", "Age Inclusive", and "Age Friendly" here in the Collective...
We often use phrases like "Age Empowering", "Age Inclusive", and "Age Friendly" here in the Collective...
...But what do these phrases actually mean? What do they look like in our efforts?
...But what do these phrases actually mean? What do they look like in our efforts?
Aging, or growing older, is a natural process that all living beings go through. Aging is a process that confers wisdom and experience that helps an individual and their community better survive or even thrive in their environments. From communities thousands of years ago to communities today, older adults have always had a critical role in our societies.
Aging, or growing older, is a natural process that all living beings go through. Aging is a process that confers wisdom and experience that helps an individual and their community better survive or even thrive in their environments. From communities thousands of years ago to communities today, older adults have always had a critical role in our societies.
Yet, instead of recognizing the complexity of aging as a human experience and societal cornerstone, aging can be seen as something deeply negative and undesirable. When unsupportive social systems reinforce these negative stereotypes and vice versa, this cycle leads to widespread ageism.
Yet, instead of recognizing the complexity of aging as a human experience and societal cornerstone, aging can be seen as something deeply negative and undesirable. When unsupportive social systems reinforce these negative stereotypes and vice versa, this cycle leads to widespread ageism.
What is Ageism?
What is Ageism?
Ageism refers to "stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age" (WHO). Ageism can manifest as institutional ageism (ageism perpetuated through institutional actions and policies), interpersonal ageism (ageism in social interactions), and internalized ageism (ageist beliefs applied to oneself).
Ageism refers to "stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age" (WHO). Ageism can manifest as institutional ageism (ageism perpetuated through institutional actions and policies), interpersonal ageism (ageism in social interactions), and internalized ageism (ageist beliefs applied to oneself).
While ageism can happen to people of all ages, here we focus on ageism against older adults.
While ageism can happen to people of all ages, here we focus on ageism against older adults.
Ageism is widespread, and data from the 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 82% of older Americans reported experiencing ageism regularly. From this poll they found that:
Ageism is widespread, and data from the 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 82% of older Americans reported experiencing ageism regularly. From this poll they found that:
- 65% of those who responded experienced ageist messages from the media
- 45% experienced interpersonal ageism
- 36% had internalized ageism
What does Ageism look like?
What does Ageism look like?
Ageism comes in many forms, directed to and from many different kinds of people. Here are just a few examples that you may be familiar with:
Ageism comes in many forms, directed to and from many different kinds of people. Here are just a few examples that you may be familiar with:
- Lying about your age for fear of negative perceptions
- Assuming that young people are computer geniuses and older people are technologically inept.
- Describing minor forgetfulness as a "senior moment."
- Discussions of the "silver tsunami" that intentionally blame or unintentionally imply older people as the root of current economic and social challenges.
- "Anti-aging" products and services
- Praising older people by comparing them to younger ones: "You look good for [your age]," "You're young at heart" or "Inside, I feel 30 years younger."
- Using age to define what people can and cannot do: "You're still... [dancing, driving, going to the gym, wearing a particular style]? You're too old to do those things."
Remember: there's a difference between acknowledging when someone is old/aging as a simple fact of reality- versus using someone's age to justify assumptions about their capabilities, interests, and value in society.
Remember: there's a difference between acknowledging when someone is old/aging as a simple fact of reality- versus using someone's age to justify assumptions about their capabilities, interests, and value in society.
Being old isn't inherently bad, ageism makes us associate it with things that make it feel that way.
Being old isn't inherently bad, ageism makes us associate it with things that make it feel that way.
Is Ageism a Problem?
Is Ageism a Problem?
"Ageism can change how we view ourselves, can erode solidarity between generations, can devalue or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older populations can contribute, and can impact our health, longevity and well-being while also having far-reaching economic consequences.
"Ageism can change how we view ourselves, can erode solidarity between generations, can devalue or limit our ability to benefit from what younger and older populations can contribute, and can impact our health, longevity and well-being while also having far-reaching economic consequences.
For example, ageism is associated with earlier death (by 7.5 years), poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability in older age. Ageism also increases risky health behaviors, such as eating an unhealthy diet, drinking excessively or smoking, and reduces our quality of life.
For example, ageism is associated with earlier death (by 7.5 years), poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability in older age. Ageism also increases risky health behaviors, such as eating an unhealthy diet, drinking excessively or smoking, and reduces our quality of life.
In the United States, one in every seven dollars spent on health care every year for the eight most expensive conditions was due to ageism (US$ 63 billion in total)."
In the United States, one in every seven dollars spent on health care every year for the eight most expensive conditions was due to ageism (US$ 63 billion in total)."
What can we do about it?
What can we do about it?
Ageism is said to be one of the last socially acceptable prejudices, pervading many cultures and negatively impacting us as individuals and our communities. It is a problem that many people do not even see as a problem, and so the first step is to take the time to learn what it is and to understand what it looks like in our communities.
Ageism is said to be one of the last socially acceptable prejudices, pervading many cultures and negatively impacting us as individuals and our communities. It is a problem that many people do not even see as a problem, and so the first step is to take the time to learn what it is and to understand what it looks like in our communities.
From there, we can begin to change not just how we think about getting older, but how we talk about it, how we consider older adults in our work, and how we can come together to shift the negative narratives around aging into the complex and powerful realities we know them to be.
From there, we can begin to change not just how we think about getting older, but how we talk about it, how we consider older adults in our work, and how we can come together to shift the negative narratives around aging into the complex and powerful realities we know them to be.
Some Resources
Some Resources
In our search for people and places working to actively rethink aging and ageism, these resources and organizations have come to the fore. While they may not always apply to the unique context presented by Hawai‘i and its current culture, they do offer great resources to get started.
Reframe Aging - Countering Ageism by Changing How We Talk About Aging
Changing the Narrative - Ending Ageism Together
A Note
A Note
While the resources provided above are great for starting the conversation, they often are not enough to cover the rich cultural context of aging here in Hawai‘i. We need local leadership and communities to generate thinking, research, understandings, strategies, and solutions around ageism that are tailored to our communities and their experiences. If you are interested in engaging in these knowledge building conversations to enhance our collective impact and ability to serve kūpuna, please reach out to us at kupunacollective@hiphi.org.
Note: this page is under constant development as it responds to ongoing conversations around aging in Hawai‘i and the world. If you have any thoughts, reactions, or suggestions to make these series of pages more useful for our members and specific to our communities, please let us know at kupunacollective@hiphi.org
This page was designed by our previous Kūpuna Collective Special Projects Coordinator VISTA Kiara Bacasen
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