The prejudice we all have: Ageism

Which form of discrimination will impact all of us, sooner or later??Ageism. And yet it rarely gets a mention in the DEI and workplace belonging discussion.?

Thankfully, we have Ashton Applewhite.?

In the latest?We Are Human Leaders podcast episode, we get real on the issue of ageism in the workplace with author and ageism activist Ashton Applewhite. Along the way, she also blows our minds more than once, with searing insight into the intersectionality of prejudice and the pervasive impact of ageism on all of us.

Listen to the episode here

The bias we will all experience at some point?

We are all aging right now. If that feels hard or uncomfortable to acknowledge, that might have something to do with the messaging we receive around aging.?

As Ashton puts it, “Aging is not something annoying and sad that old people do. It is how we move through life. And it affects every conceivable area of being human.”

She goes on: “It is often the first form of prejudice that white men encounter. It's the first time they bang into the idea that it’s not a level playing field out there.”

During our conversation, Ashton probes deep into the question of why information, media and the pervading narrative around aging are so profoundly negative and fear mongering. Indeed, these messages are so pervasive that they impact all of us, consciously or otherwise.?

Ageism is not just about being older. As Ashton explains: “Ageism is any form of prejudice, any judgment on the basis of age, including that you're too young. Older people bear the brunt of it by far, because we live in such a youth obsessed society. It casts a shadow across our entire lives, especially for women.”

The 3 antidotes to ageism

Ashton outlines the 3 antidotes to ageism: awareness, integration and action. As for action leaders can take today to start to fight today, Ashton suggests we start with candid introspection to build awareness. As she puts it, “We are all ageist. We can't challenge bias unless we're aware of it. So the very first most essential part is to look at your own attitude towards age and aging.”

How to take anti-ageist action

According to Ashton, those of us in a position of privilege have an onus to take action against ageism. “We have to feel safe, economically safe, physically safe in order to take these risks, which is why it is so important for those of us with more privilege to support people who have less privilege and are more at risk and have more at stake in standing up to the system. The worst thing you can do is not to try at all. The only mistake you can make is not to try truthfully.”

Have you been subject to a comment that feels ageist? Or that smacks of another form of prejudice? Ashton offers this simple and powerful statement:

“A really good all purpose response to a comment that feels ageist or sexist is, ‘what do you mean by that?’ Then the person has to think about what they meant. That works no matter what the offense is. And maybe it's not an offense, maybe you misheard it. Maybe it's not what we think it is. That's part of it too. But it's a way to open the dialogue. It ripples outward the same way that these barriers affect us externally.”

Listen to the episode now