AGEISM. What is it and how can you overcome it ?
First just let me say that this is a follow up on a post by a fellow WA member who I respect and appreciate for the work he is doing in this community.
I'm not posting this to criticize anyone or condemn anyone, just offering my opinion on this subject.
AGEISM WHAT IS IT AND IS IT STILL ALIVE TODAY ?
If, you do a google search, a Wikipedia definition of Ageism is defined as : Ageism, also spelled Agism. Is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. This may be casual or systematic. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism.
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Ageism is real, but it is especially real to those who accept and buy into the ageism label that some might want to attach to the older folks in our community as being.. Too old, irrelevant, and unable to perform or accomplish a task as well as younger folks, or unable to contribute creative ideas, and innovative concepts in a meaningful way.
Now that we have got that out of the way...
If anyone tries to attach that label on you and you don't.. Agree with it.. Buy into it.. Or accept that it applies to you... Then I suggest that you peel that label from off your forehead, draw a smiley face on it and toss it in the trash ! :)
The only label you should wear is the one that you put on yourself. Now if you agree that you are too old and irrelevant then by all means..Own it and embrace it, and wear it proudly.
If, you accept that label, then you should be able to say out loud.. I'm old and irrelevant and proud of it! without shame...
However, if you don't agree or accept that as being true of you, then you need to take that label and re-write the narrative, flip the script if you will.. Whatever way you want to phrase it, show the naysayers that you don't fit into their stereotypical story line.
When I replied to the original post on ageism by my fellow WA member, I included some examples of some older folks who accomplished some pretty incredible things.
These folks defined themselves as not being too old or irrelevant .. Not by their words, but by their actions and accomplishments.
For example, there is the woman in her 70s who I believe.. ( I'm looking for the story so I can post the details on my website. I had the story saved somewhere) .. Broke a swimming record, by swimming non-stop for a few days in shark infested waters a year or so ago.
*(That story like the rest, was about a year from the original post date)
Then there is the 89-year-old man who lifted over 400lbs, who couldn't have weighed much more than 100lbs himself, I have the video of that story but since I try not to post links on my blogs here at WA because of the rules.
I have the link on my profile page along with a link to a story about a 73-year-old first time mom who gave birth to her first child with her 80 year old husband.
*Update. Those links may no longer be available, or working on todays date, which is different from the original post date.
You can copy and paste those links in your browser to view the video and read the full stories, if they are available. There are more examples that I will post on my health news and information site when I find them.
There are many talented young people in our community and I would like to give them credit for their many positive accomplishments and contributions to our world. I give them much credit for what they do to improve our lives and the talents they provide to help us all.
I just don't understand or accept, how some (Not all) can dismiss the talents and abilities of older folks and consider us as being too old and irrelevant.
As I mentioned before in my reply to the earlier post on this subject by a fellow WA member, who seemed to be disturbed by this attitude that he was getting from some purple haired girl, as he discribed her.
No one person or one group of people..Whether it be young or old, rich or poor.. no one group has a monopoly on creativity, talent, ability or relevance.
Is Mozart, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, people long dead and gone still relevant today ? Is their creativity and talent considered outdated?
Do we still listen to their music, view their talent.. Don't we still use Edison s creativity, the light bulb today ? How valuable is Pablo Picasso's creativity and work ?
I don't know of anyone who is younger and just starting to paint who can sell their work at a higher price, and that has the value of a Picasso.
Don't young people today sometimes sample the music of older artist, and include them in their recordings ?
We still use the basic design of the light bulb that Edison invented to light up the night many years ago right now, it hasn't become out dated or been replaced yet by some new form of lighting.
(Although there has been some modifications over the years, the basic design has not changed)
According to history, we went from lighting the darkness... By fire.. The candle.. Then kerosene lamps, to the light bulb..
The same basic design of the light bulb that we still use today, in this modern world filled with innovations and technology.
We can still listen to Mozart on some classical music stations today, even some of his work has been sampled by modern artists.
I guess that old biblical passage still holds true today...There is nothing new under the sun. And speaking of the sun, talk about old design, not even Edison could improve on that original light design
And so the next time the purple haired girl ( You have to have read the first post to know who I'm talking about) tries to tell you that you are too old and your ideas are irrelevant , tell her to turn on the light so she can see you, and listen to Mozart so she can hear you, and tell her that no one person or group owns..or has a copyright or patent on creativity or relevance.
I guess as long as some people have a stereotypical view of what old age means then ageism will live on and be alive and well for future generations of old people.. The ones who are young right now.
I have rambled on for to long, gotta go now, its time for me to get out of my rocking chair and take my nap :)
Recent Comments
17
Age is not important nowadays. The important thing is to do what we want to do without worrying about how many years we have been on this planet. Often people who pay too much attention to the age of others are people locked in their world and very little open to new things. So let's stay young in our life and in our heads, being happy with what we learn every day that God does.
Ingrid
Thank you all for your comments and feed back, I was just able to find one of the stories that I blogged about and included it in my bio , sorry for the delay but I have been very busy.
You can see it in the following link -- If you cant access the story by clicking on the link below then COPY THE WEB ADDRESS in my bio AND PASTE IT IN YOUR BROWSER
89 year old man lifts weights
https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/viral/89-year-old-joe-stockinger-deadlifts-405-pounds/
* I will put the website address to the other story about the 74 year old first time mom and her 80 year old husband in my bio under new news when I find it,
Thanks again to you all , and here's to your ongoing progress in your online quest for success here at WA,
Anthony
Age is nothing more than a number, it's more about outlook.
I have known some in their 40's who acted old and am staying with an 81 year old who has more life in her than many teenagers. At her 80th birthday she danced all night, those who wanted to talk to her had to join her on the dance floor. She has a very young outlook.
I might be 63 and a grandmother of 6 but consider myself barely middle aged. I run around with the younger ones, bounce on the trampoline with them and encourage them to be more adventurous.
Life is what you make it.
What I meant to say, is that its important to hear the many different opinions on this subject... I just typed it in wrong, it must be time for me to take a nap again :)
While I didn't see the post that you mentioned, I have worked closely with individuals of all ages. I believe that we all have a lot that we can learn from each other, "if" we are open to learning and "if" we are teachable. For sure, older adults and the elderly have far more life experiences from which they have learned and gained wisdom. I also believe that every person has unique skills, talents, and life experiences that we can benefit from in some way. Younger adults may not have as many life experiences but they still have skills and talents to share and they may see things in ways that others not considered. So I'm of the opinion that it pays to listen to those of all ages b/c I might learn something new or find a better way to do something. :)
Thanks for the post!
Colleen
The first post on this subject was Ageism is alive and well by Alex Evans. It was on the dashboard for a long time but I don't see it anymore
Not everyone discriminates against age and so some of the comments I make in my blog about young or old don't apply to everyone.
The first blogger on this subject had an ageism situation that he blogged about with one purple hair girl and so it is situations like that I am responding to, and as I mention in my blog I give a lot of credit to younger ones who contribute with their talents in a positive way, and as I also mentioned in my blog, no one group, young or old owns creativity
Yes to a large degree physical age is irrelevant in and of itself.
People just seem to like to judge others in general to classify, categorize label them in a simplistic manner.
It goes both ways. How many times is someone criticized and not taken seriously due to simply not having lived at least x years Often I think.
In the end everyone is unique. A different person. Interests and experiences can be similar between people who are decades apart in years lived. Likewise, two people who have lived the same amount of years may be as different as it is possible to be.
These are simple things really so I don't know why anyone would struggle with understanding them. Not saying you are just that in general not sure why folks do it.
We can all learn from others whether they are older or younger. Years lived doesn't determine success or failure. It doesn't determine values and interests. It doesn't make a person "better" or "worse" than another.
What a person does and thinks and believes and values are far more critical factors in what makes them who they are, their lives the way they are and creates the limitations that hold them back.
Variety is what helps to make this world a much more interesting place to live, could you imagine what the world would be like if we all looked and acted the exact same way ?
However just because we are all different and have different ways and thoughts and talents and abilities and behaviors doesn't mean we should or can understand or accept what could be considered bad or poor behavior.
In my opinion to try and understand or accept bad behavior is almost the same as empathy with it.
If you do something wrong then no I don't understand or accept it
For example If you make the statement I understand why criminals steal from people, are you empathizing or accepting that behavior?
and even though you might understand the basic difference between right and wrong and that some people because we are all different will do good things and some will do bad, even though you know all this , that still might not stop you from saying..
I just don't understand why this person did this bad thing or that person did this, unless you empathize with that behavior.
I'm not saying that I'm totally right about this, it's just my opinion
Don't remember seeing the post (maybe that says something about my age), but coming up on 82, I am in hopes that there is still room in the stable for me. Meantime, just going to keep acting like I'm 28 (how's that)?
Joe
If you are referring to the first post on this subject . The first post on this subject was Ageism is alive and well by Alex Evans. It was on the dashboard for a long time but I don't see it anymore
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I'm convinced that age is something your mind comes up with to take away your energy. In my own mind I still feel at around 30 years old and forget that I'm really 65 and in a wheelchair. I still dream about playing softball, volleyball and coaching kids. I can visualize success in my online endeavors and I'm sure I will see great success during the coming years of my life. I may never physically run again, but my mind still takes flight on the wings of my dreams.
Thank you for your encouraging words , I'm convinced that we were not meant to age and science has backed this up.
Our organs were designed to renew and regenerate but they don't do what they were designed to do, and science is trying to figure out why, and so your dreams for better health might not be that far from being a reality.
when we dream of a better life we must remember to believe we can achieve and that we will succeed.
Take hold of your dreams and ride them into the future, to your health and success,
Anthony