ageism

ageism

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "ageism" is /ˈeɪdʒɪzəm/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:

• Age-: /eɪdʒ/

• -ism: /ɪzəm/

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Word Form Variations

• Noun:

• Singular: ageism (e.g., "Ageism is a pervasive issue.")

• Adjective (derived):

• ageist (e.g., "That's an ageist comment.")

• Adverb (derived):

• ageistically (less common but possible, e.g., "The policy was designed ageistically.")

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. Definition: Prejudice, discrimination, or stereotyping directed against individuals or groups on the basis of their age, especially when older people are discriminated against.

• Synonyms: age discrimination, age prejudice, gerontophobia (if specifically fear/hatred of the elderly)

• Antonyms: age equality, age equity, age inclusivity

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Examples of Use

In Books:

• "Ageism in literature refers to the negative portrayal and stereotypical representations of elderly characters, which contribute to societal prejudices against older individuals. Such portrayals often depict older characters as physically unattractive, confused, a1nd lonely..." (EBSCO Research Starters, "Ageism in Literature")

• Authors like Doris Lessing and Philip Roth have explored the experiences of older individuals in their work, challenging traditional ageist narratives. (Number Analytics, "Understanding Ageism in Literature")

In Newspapers:

• "“[The media] lumps groups of older people together into one big homogeneous group,” says Niall Ryan [from the Centre for Ageing Better]. He points to phrases such as “bed blockers” being used in health and social care stories, as well as framing older people as frail, in poor health, or a burden on the systems." (Journo Resources, March 2024)

• A recent article highlighted examples of everyday ageism, including "Birthday parties featuring black balloons and crepe paper, cards that make fun of getting old, joke gifts about aging," and the use of "anti-aging" products and services. (Star Tribune, "Examples of ageism: Here are 12 that happen every day")

In Online Publications:

• "The internet is where a person can get called 'old or asked to 'act their age' as early as their early twenties. TikTok is the epitome of this phenomenon, with sixty percent of its users being Gen Zers." (Lampoon Magazine, February 2024)

• An article discussed how "Digital ageism in data societies" can manifest, citing examples like banks increasingly relying on online shopping and digital banking services being designed without older clients in mind, leading to their exclusion. (Openaccess.uoc.edu, "Digital ageism in data societies")

In Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "In Hollywood, a stark example of ageism is evident in the disparity of roles available to women over 40 compared to their male counterparts. Actresses such as Maggie Gyllenhaal and Olivia Wilde have publicly criticised the industry for limiting opportunities as they age." (2Rock & Art, January 2025)

• Shows like Grace and Frankie and The Kominsky Method have been instrumental in rewriting the narrative around ageing, challenging ageism by featuring older protagonists navigating personal growth, relationships, and careers. (Rock & Art, January 2025)

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, Saturday Night Live featured a sketch entitled “Boomers Got the Vax,” which played on the “greedy geezer” stereotype, with performers rapping lines like: “Got all the money now we got the vaccination.” (Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, July 2021)

In General Public Discourse:

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, "The public discourse... misrepresents and devalues older adults. The ageist attitudes circulating during COVID-19 make some people think that the pandemic is an older person problem." (PMC, "Ageism and COVID-19: what does our society's response say about us?")

• "Every second person in the world is believed to hold ageist attitudes – leading to poorer physical and mental health and reduced quality of life for older persons, costing societies billions of dollars each year, according to a new United Nations report on ageis3m." (World Health Organization (WHO), March 2021)

• In some discussions, there's been a debate about "age-based cutoffs to ration ventilators," which reinforces the ageist attitude that older people are more expendable. (Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, July 2021)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Ageism

1. "It's ageism, far more than the passage of time, that makes growing older harder for all of us." (Ashton Applewhite, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism)

2. "Discrimination on the basis of age is as unacceptable as discrimination on the basis of any other aspect of ourselves that we cannot change." (Ashton Applewhite, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism)

3. "Nowhere is ageism more sexist, and vicious, than in the domain of sexuality." (Ashton Applewhite, This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism)

4. "To fight against aging, we should first fight ageism." (Ana Claudia Antunes, Memoirs of An Amazon)

5. "Ageism is as odious as racism and sexism." (Claude Pepper)

6. "Ageism is prejudice against our future selves." (Carole Eastern, CEO Ageing Better)

7. "Ageism compounds all other 'isms'." (Dame Carol Black, the Centre for Ageing Better)

8. "This phenomenon with Betty White is so wonderfully amazing. In a world where ageism runs rampant, out of left field, all of a sudden, the country decides to celebrate Betty White, and she becomes cool at 90." (Chris Meledandri)

9. "All my life, I faced sexism and racism and then, when I hit 40, ageism." (Rita Moreno)

10. "Just as we reject racism, sexism, ageism, and heterosexism, we reject speciesism." (Gary L. Francione)

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Etymology

The word "ageism" is a blend of "age" and the suffix "-ism."

• "Age" refers to the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed. This part of the word is old, coming from Old French around the 13th century, ultimately from Latin aetas, meaning "period of life, age."

• The suffix "-ism" is used to form nouns that refer to a belief system, doctrine, practice, or, in this case, a form of discrimination or prejudice (like in "racism" or "sexism"). This suffix comes from Greek "-ismos" and Latin "-ismus."

So, putting them together, "ageism" literally means a "system of beliefs or practices related to age."

The term "ageism" was coined by Robert N. Butler in 1969. He was an American physician, gerontologist, and psychiatrist. He defined it as a form of prejudice and discrimination against older people, much like racism and sexism, or against any age group. His initial meaning focused specifically on discrimination against the elderly, but its use has broadened over time to include prejudice against any age group, though it's still most commonly associated with older individuals.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Ageism

1. Fighting ageism: Actively working to combat prejudice or discrimination based on age.

2. Combating ageism: Similar to "fighting ageism," emphasizing the struggle against it.

3. Calling out ageism: Pointing out or challenging instances of age-based prejudice or discrimination.

4. Internalized ageism: When an individual starts to believe the negative stereotypes associated with their own age group.

5. Unconscious ageism: Subtle, often unintentional biases against individuals based on their age.

6. "Age is just a number": (Idiom using a synonym's concept) Often used to counter the idea of age-based limitations or prejudice. While not using "ageism" directly, it speaks to the core idea of challenging age-based stereotypes.

7. "Don't judge a book by its cover, or by its year of publication": (Original idiom) A playful take on a classic idiom, suggesting that one shouldn't stereotype based on age.

8. "Turning a blind eye to age discrimination": (Idiom using a synonym) Ignoring or failing to address prejudice based on age.

9. "Breaking the age barrier": (Phrase using a synonym's concept) Overcoming obstacles or prejudices related to age, often in professional or social contexts.

10. "The ageism card": (Lesser-known/constructed phrase) Playing on the idea of "playing the race card" or "the gender card," implying an accusation of ageism is being made.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of ageism from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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