The Everyday Ageism Project: How Experience is being Ignored in the Workplace & on Telly

The Everyday Ageism Project

The Everyday Ageism Project aims to capture people’s everyday experiences of ageism. Research by EURAGE shows that across the European region, ageism is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice, yet relatively little is known about how it is experienced, who experiences it and the situations which may leave people vulnerable to age discrimination.

By providing a safe forum for people to anonymously share their experiences, the project aims to understand the consequences of ageism and the ways that age discrimination can affect people’s everyday lives. We also wish to encourage people to share their stories to show that ageism does exist and that it is a valid problem worth discussing.

Click here to submit your experience of ageism.

Monday, 18 March 2013

How Experience is being Ignored in the Workplace & on Telly

Aged 65 and 'On the Scrapheap'

"Most of the instances [of ageism] seem to occur on TV but I was also told that because of my age I would have to leave a job that I loved (aged 65 at the time). The [organisation] I worked for have since been told that this is illegal. My dismissal was blatant ageism. My boss was very sorry but he said that he needed to get a younger person into the position; he employed a woman of about 30.

When I lost my job I felt very bitter. My husband had just died and apart from the financial loss, I lost a lot of support and friendship from people I worked with. I have kept the friendships with many of them but really felt that I was on the scrapheap."

'A Cleaver Antique'

"The other incident that prompted me to write this blog was that I was watching a quiz programme on TV and the male contestant of 73 who did extremely well was described as 'a clever antique'. I think this is insulting. I also note that on many TV programmes anyone who is in their 60's, 70's or even older is described with almost bated breath as if they are some strange species. Even on mind numbing programmes where they feature fashion or make-up information the age range does not seem to go beyond 50.

I am sure it is ageism. It is almost as if we don't exist and if anyone over the age of 60 dares to rear their head they are regarded almost as an alien species or treated as if they are a sandwich short of a picnic.

I feel that a wealth of experience and expertise is just being ignored and I salute any older person who rebels in whatever way they choose to do so."