Knocking over myths & stereotypes. Lessons from the animal kingdom on age discrimination

Myths, folklore and stereotypes have a lot to answer for in both the human world and animal kingdom alongside the damage they cause.?

Are the myriad of populist beliefs about animals true?? And how are they relevant to age discrimination and debunking human stereotypes? What can we learn from them?

These were the questions I researched and unpacked the last week in a series of LinkedIn posts to sort facts from fiction. ?

After all evidence and proof should be where it’s at in shattering stereotypes.? And this is what the See The Person Not The Stereotype Campaign is all about.

But despite the mountain of research and statistics debunking fiction vs facts of age stereotypes and ageism, humans remain fairly stuck in their beliefs.?

Negative age stereotypes are not just externally imposed at horrid levels, but are also internalised.

In other words, many people over 50 are often the holders of internalised age discrimination to their own generation and self-directed to themselves.? ??

So I thought it would be a unique fun way to help debunk stereotypes by using analogies of from the animal kingdom to highlight how inaccurate they can be.

Definitions of stereotypes & myths

Before I share the analogies, let me clarify some definitions and similarities:

?? Stereotypes are generalised beliefs or assumptions about a specific group of people based on oversimplified characteristics (e.g., "Older workers can’t adapt to new technology"). Stereotypes often involve bias and can lead to unfair treatment.

?? Myths are widely held but false beliefs or ideas. They are mostly created to explain something in a way that isn't based on facts.?These often intersect with folklore beliefs and actions to prevent or attract something

Essentially myths are about false beliefs and ideas, while stereotypes are about general distorted blanket beliefs and perceptions of groups of people.

The key difference is that stereotypes specifically target groups of people, while myths can relate to any type of false belief.

But there are some relevant similarities:

1/ Generalisations:?Both rely on broad, basic ideas. Myths generalise incorrect descriptions, while stereotypes generalise characteristics about groups of people.

2/ Assumptions: Both arise from assumptions rather than facts and evidence.

3/ Reinforcement via Repetition: Both become deep rooted in society via repeated sharing (even if totally untrue)

4/ Influence on Perception: Both shape how people think and act, often leading to biased attitudes or behaviours.

4/ Harmful: Both can perpetuate discrimination or exclusion, especially if they are used to justify prejudice or limit opportunities for individuals or groups.

Animal Kingdom - Fiction vs Truth

Following is the summary and takeaways of the LinkedIn posts I ran last week asking the truth about dogs, cats, owls, crows, sharks and swans.?? I absolutely loved doing the research and found some very interesting facts and truths.

Are cats & dogs always enemies? ?? ??

The myth that cats and dogs mostly fight and don’t get along is eons old.

The truth is that a lot of dogs and cats don't get on at all. And lot's do get along wonderfully and are best buddies.

As I shared in the LinkedIn post here (with a wonderful video of a cat and dog playing) this is a blanket misconception the same as stereotype beliefs of gender and age.

Blanket absolutes are foolish. We see that in the stereotype that people 50+ struggle with technology.? As with cats and dogs getting along, some do struggle and others blitz it and are brilliant.? ?

Similarly to the stereotype of 50+ being reluctant to change.? Some are for sure, and some embrace change with gusto.?

??Takeaway/Reflections???

This speaks to the issue of teams and stereotypes about different generations not working well together.?

Some people over 50 may not get along with others younger, and many absolutely do. ?Some Gen Y find it difficult to relate to Gen X & Baby boomers.? And others have no trouble.?

So this analogy is a reminder that nothing is an absolute and it’s all about the individuals.? Don’t automatically assume people won’t work together

Are owls really wise? ????

Is the metaphor-stereotype that owls are wise true??Are there smarter birds? And what does being wise mean anyhow?

Truth is owls are not the wisest bird on the planet despite the centuries old belief harking back to ancient Greek mythology.

The nocturnal owl was associated with Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and with their their large forward-facing eyes, head turning ability and a calm, stoic demeanour hence were a symbol of wisdom . ?

Whilst owls are great hunters with excellent night vision and hearing, their actual problem-solving intelligence is pretty average. And they are not good in adapting and interacting in different environments (a hallmark of true intelligence) along with being stubborn.

The truth is Crows, Magpies & Ravens (from the Corvid family of birds) are the leaders in bird intelligence, social interaction and problem solving skills You can read more about my Ornithology research in the LinkedIn Post here

??Takeaway/Reflections???

There is a populist narrative that age has a direct and automatic correlation to wisdom.

Of course a large number of people 50+ are very wise with exceptional applied knowledge, wisdom and and experience. That’s a fact. ?

But not everyone over 50 is wise. Some are unwise and nuance matters. So it’s inappropriate to label any attribute as an absolute onto a generational age range.

And not not all Gen Z & Y are unwise. Many are in fact wise beyond their years.

Definition of wisdom

My definition of wisdom is an open heart and mind with a teachable spirit. ?

Wisdom is about having solid discernment, deep curiosity, 3rd person perspective and self-awareness.?

It’s not just about the quantity of years and experiences. It’s about the quality & depth of those years and experiences in life and work and learnings applied and appreciated. ?

It's not helpful to make blanket statements that all people over 50 are wise by virtue of their years. Pitting generations creates derision by inferring that all other ages are unwise and of less value.

Are all sharks dangerous & all swans gentle? ?? ??

This was a fascinating myth and analogy to knock over and research. Is it true that we should fear all shark species and that all swans are harmless creatures?

In my LinkedIn post here I urged not to be hoodwinked in believing the stereotypes that all Sharks are dangerous predators to be feared at every turn and swim. ??Their fierce appearances fuel blanket stereotypes to the unaware.

The truth is that within the shark family (Selachimorpha) there are enormous variances in size, features, eating and behaviours with many terrifying species including the Great White & Bull shark.

My research found that the 2 largest sharks in the world are actually the most docile and harmless plankton eaters. ???Namely, the Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) which grows to 12M and the Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) which grows to 10M.??

Whilst looking pretty intimidating they are totally benign and can interact with swimmers.

Swans are the opposite of the shark rhetoric and reality. We shouldn’t be misled by swan’s appearance that they are all calm, peaceful creatures.?Their beautiful plumage and elegance trick many into a false sense of security.

The truth is that Swans (Cygnus gene part of the?Anatidae family incl ducks and geese) have as many variances within the species and many are bloody ferocious.

The most aggressive is the Mute Swan which will attack humans, birds & animals wildly followed by the Whooper Swan.

Black Swans are considered to be the most docile, but swans generally are not that friendly despite their serene appearance. Folklore and literature portrayals paint swans as romantic gentle creatures.?

But it’s often a case of Run Forest Run - they are not all kind gentle bunches of plumage.

?? Takeaway/Reflections??

Appearances can be very deceiving and lead to assumptions (and we all know what that means. making an ass out of you and me).? Sharks and swans teach us that stereotypes based on visual appearance are not an absolute and guarantee for anything.

Be open to everyone and see them for who they are.? Some people look younger, some older, some have grey hair, some have no hair.? You get the drift.?

There are so many other animal kingdom analogies and myths to explore. And I might well do that during the Xmas holiday break.? But do let me know if another analogy jumps out to knock over the nonsense of age discrimination and stereotypes.

PS: Goldfish ??

And by the way, it's absolutely untrue that goldfish only have a 3 second memory.? ?That myth is well and truly debunked?.

In reality, goldfish (Carassius auratus) have much longer memories spanning? weeks, months and even years. And the science to back this up has been around for more than 60 years as reported in detail on Live Science here. ?

As for memory loss and forgetfulness, like losing car keys, that impacts every age on the planet.? ?

Latest photo collage of This is Men & Women 50+ below. More information, articles, media and collages on See The Person Not The Stereotype HERE

About

Sue Parker is a communications strategist, career marketing and job search specialist. She works with executives, leaders & mid career professionals.

A vocal advocate against ageism and stereotypes, she founded the See The Person Not the Stereotype campaign in October 2024. She is also a well regarded media contributor in print, radio, TV, podcasts and online publications.

Email Sue: [email protected]

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