anti-ageism campaign
(source)
A new blog series, this time about human rights nonsense. For new readers: I don’t believe human rights are nonsense; quite the contrary. But as a passionate activist for human rights, I’m obliged to point to the ways in which the language of human rights is used to push nonsense. Human rights nonsense devalues the whole system of human rights, and has to be ridiculed mercilessly if we want to preserve what is good about human rights.
So here we go. The first one: ageism. I don’t pretend that there can be no age discrimination, or that there isn’t any. What I object to is that this problem is often blown up to preposterous proportions. When the BBC sacks some older talking heads it’s because they are old, and not because perhaps it’s time to give some young people a chance.
When we are excessively courteous and address old people in a loud voice and with simple language, it’s not because we want to be nice and comprehensible, but it’s because we patronize them.
When we demand that older people retake the exams for their driver’s license, it’s not because their physical health has to be checked and their knowledge updated, but because we think old people are stupid and dangerous on the road, like for example 10 year olds who also aren’t allowed to drive a car.
When aging, “in our culture”, is equated with deterioration and impairment, we’re not stating a fact but we’re stigmatizing and stereotyping old people and engaging in “an adoration of youth”.
When we worry about the fiscal and healthcare consequences of a growing population of pensioners, we’re not discussing a real problem but looking for a scapegoat.
It seems that the concept of “ageism”, with its echoes of racism and sexism, puts old people on the same footing as African-Americans in 19th century America, or women in Islam. That’s not fair to slaves and women in burqas. We forget that most ”senior citizens” (a euphemism to protect us against accusations of ageism) benefit from a relatively early and generous retirement, grew up in the Golden Sixties, will have young people working for their pensions long past the age at which they retired, and don’t have financial burdens linked to mortgages, student loans and the education of children.
I don’t know. I think ageism is much more real than you admit. It’s hard to measure, but I think it’s there.
Sure it’s there, but I think it’s a minor problem that gets too much attention (or perhaps I just listen to bbc world service too much). The “nonsense” in the title of the series is deliberately provocative. I hope I won’t regret it. ;-)
Well I don’t think it’s minor. When, for example, the elderly begin to think of themselves as useless and incompetent (i.e. the looking-glass self), I don’t think it’s minor. When an elderly person cannot get a job because of their age, I don’t think it’s minor. When an elderly person can’t get the health care they deserve because of their age, I don’t think it’s minor. Why are these minor issues?
At least where I’m from, there are no elderly persons who don’t get healthcare simply because of their age.
Where I’m from, they get medicare, but I’m torn on the concept of ageism. I think a competent person shouldn’t be discriminated against no matter what their age, but I have had the experience of waiting 20 minutes for an elderly clerk to get the cash register to do what she wanted… she had lost the competency required of the job. Like most human rights issues, this one is too complicated for a simple “rule” as to the age at which one shouldn’t work/drive/whatever anymore.
Good point. I’ll just reiterate that it wasn’t my intention to claim that ageism is impossible or nonsense by definition. I just wanted to highlight that some cases are overhyped and that it generally doesn’t do the fight for human rights any good when we lose sight of the really important and urgent issues.
I sense that I’m perhaps going to regret having started this blog series ;-)
I have had a group of young clerks take two hours to botch up the purchase of a computer. They put the purchase on a credit card and took cash to pay for it. It took 6 months to get it corrected and then only after I threatened to contact the district attorney.
On another occasion I went to a fast food place late at night and found that the staff was a bunch of teenagers goofing off. I did not know that you could screw up the order that much. They had the wrong items, missing items and charged the wrong amount.
I have had much better luck with older workers.
The problem is that people are living longer and are active longer. In many jobs they are judged by chronological age rather than ability. In some careers they can be tossed aside as young as 30.
I have been anti-racist for many years. The one thing that I do not do is compare and judge people’s oppression. For the recipient it may be devastating. Have you been told that you are too old to do your job at 45? How about having an enthusiastic response to your resume on the phone then show up for the interview and having the manager instantly going from a smile to disappointment when he sees you.
This is a serious and complex problem. Things are changing and society is lagging far behind.
Your ignorance has been noted.
Good info,
Thanks
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How our society treats our aging members now, is setting the pattern for how you will be treated when you are old. If we do not value the contributions that seniors have made to our society, and see them as interesting individuals with much to contribute still, then dont be surprised if when your turn comes to be old, (and it will) you too will be devalued and treated dismissively. Beleive me, you dont want to be reaping the harvest of ageism that you have sown.
Can you tell me where exactly I have shown disregard for the contributions of seniors? I strongly believe all people are equal and equally deserving of respect. This should be clear to even casual readers of this blog. My point here, which is obvious even after superficial reading of this particular post, is that not all types of discrimination are equal. I’ll be glad to hear strong counter-arguments if you believe that all types of discrimination are equal and deserve equal attention.
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