A Radical Ageism Movement is Afoot

A RADICAL AGEISM MOVEMENT IS AFOOT

Ageism

is the last frontier of discrimination.

It’s more than a number; it’s real.Furthermore, it’s a socially constructed idea. These views were put forth by author and activist Ashton Applewhite, recently featured at a book event put on by STL Village, The Harvey A. Friedman Center for the Aging and The Novel Neighbor, a St. Louis bookstore. The event took place at Washington University Medical School -- 7 PM, March 27 at the Connors Auditorium in Farrell Learning Center.

Applewhite is the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism. Inintroducing her, Madeline Franklin, executive director, STL Village, a non-profitorganization for older adults to age in community, said:

“The anti-agingmovement is going strong, incorporating a new generation of ideas.”

Applewhite has been featured in such news outlets as the New York Times, the New Yorker and NPR (National Public Radio). She’s also written for a number of publications including Harper’s and the Guardian. She confided that the catalyst for writing the book was “being afraid of getting old” and her views “had been so negative.” Now, she’s found her cultural voice and launched a movement into orbit.

A personable and persuasive speaker, she pointedly told the audience of about100 mostly older adults that “Everyone in this room will become old,” adding

pg. 116

Ashton Appplewhite | Author & Activist

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A RADICAL AGEISM... cont.

that there could be a fear of reckoning of “ending up in some grim institution.” Yet, “only 2.5 percent of those older than 65 live in nursing homes. There’s also a fear of dementia or falling and some may assume that old people are depressed.” But contrary to conventional notions, “none of this is true and most older people are happy.” Adding a bit of levity to her remarks she chortled: “I’m still worried about the shoes.”

Despite some occasional humor, she kept her remarks evidenced-based and serious, filled with important facts and figures. She defined ageism as primarily discrimination and stereotypes based on age. These socially constructed concepts are “how people in power assign meaning.” Hence, it’s not so much about prejudice and biology but more about power to maintain the status quo. An example she gave would be pitting young people against old people -- used to divide and rule, keeping both under control.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines ageism as the stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination towards people on the basis of age. Ageism cuts across the life-course and stems from the perception that a person might be too old or too young to be or to do something.

A barrage of negative messages about old people – from media and other institutions -- have resulted in pernicious social ethos and because of this: “We are all ageist,” she asserted. We internalize negative messages that old people are unattractive; wrinkles are unattractive and that the aged have little-to no social-redeeming qualities. We also internalize these images about ourselves and begin to act on them. So, we “dye our hair and leave off certain information on our resumes (that might reveal our age). She compared it to Blacks passing for Whites or older passing for younger.

pg. 118

Yet, it can have a devastating impact if these messages are not challenged. To wit: “Ageism cuts work lives short.” This is problematic because older people want “accessibility and flexibility.” So many are beginning to question: why do we have to retire at 65? There’s also a unretirement movement afoot. Ageism harms our health and effects our brains at the cellular level. She noted that doctors spend less time with older people and more time with younger people. Huge social problems fester such as five out of six elder abuse incidents go unreported. Additionally, like any institutionalized bias, it marginalizes the elderly and disempowers them.

In 2016, the WHO developed a global action campaign to tackle anti-aging. Australia launched an anti-aging campaign last year. Not surprisingly ageism disadvantages women and advantages men. There is a saying among women in the film industry that speaks to this about aging White male actors: “I’ll know there’s gender equality when Sean Connery makes love to a woman his own age.” She went on to explain patriarchy where in this country it’s ruled by White male corporate elites who seek to control public discourse and ideological debate (while promoting ideological self-interest).

Therefore, if a group’s interest does not support the agenda of the ruling-class, they’re less likely to help address that group’s problems. In fact, many times it worsens. Thus, something as horrific as elder abuse can go unchecked and in effect legitimized. The same thing goes with segregating older adults from the rest of the population. What’s more, she said “an ageist culture is a hypercapitalistic and hyper-consumer society.” So, therein lies the rub. As older people move into lower and fixed incomes, scaling back on expenses, that is, spending less, the profit-motive dissipates for big business thus they’re not as

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A RADICAL AGEISM... cont.

interested in them as consumers. Big Pharma is probably the exception andother industries that specifically target the elderly.

Next Applewhite, enumerated action steps to offset institutional practices andpolicies that perpetuate discrimination against older adults. It included:

• Tap into what we know to enrich us.

• Look more generously at each other and ourselves.

• Help younger women be less apprehensive about aging. (There’s also a move to eliminate anti-aging/wrinkle products and makeup.)

• Insist on being seen and valued.

• Build a solid social network and make friends of all ages.

• Join forces for positive liberation.

This radical rethinking will “shift the power dynamics,” she said. “First you’reblind to it, then you start seeing it all around you.” In her materials, she’s alsodeclared “age pride,” noting:

It’s time to create a world of age equality by making discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other kind of bias. Whether you’re young or old or hoping to get there, this book will shake you by the shoulders, cheer you up, make you mad, and change the way that you see the rest of your life. Age pride!

Her clarion call for age pride is strikingly similar to the anthem of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown’s, “Say it loud. I’m Black and I’m proud.” The 1968 song electrified a critical mass of African Americans – old and young -- and like a rocket, shot to the top of the rhythm and blues charts, spawned a new genre of racially progressive songs and credited with influencing the Black liberation movement. Whether they’ll be a cadre of “gray power” activists galvanized and mobilized to not only change attitudes about the derogation of aging but also drilling deeply into embedded systemic bias and injustice is yet to be seen.

pg. 122

Ageism is said to be drawn from the tactics and techniques of the civil rights movement, which has shown to have some degree of success, albeit gradual. In that vein, the movement should continue to gain momentum, particularly with up and coming groups such as STL Village, a nationwide group that started in St. Louis just five years ago with activism as part of its DNA. The Friedman Center for Aging “… works toward a global society where all older adults have maximum opportunity for health, security and engagement.”

“It’s time for a radical age movement,” she proclaimed, or else “ageism willoppress us all.” Her book’s subtitle states:

A Manifesto Against Ageism – whichconnotes a movement that will change the course of history with how we think and behave towards older people and how older people make their voices heard. “It’s the perfect target for collective advocacy,” she said. “Make the world a better place to grow old in and dismantle ageism in the process.”

She continued: “Age is not just a number, it’s a real number. Aging in place is a nationwide movement and it can be problematic if it’s not aging in community. Unfortunately, most people are not prepared for this stage of life. So, make sure you have community services and people who come check on you.”

Applewhite’s work can be found at the following social media platforms: Facebook.com/This Chair Rocks https://oldschool.info/resource/this-chair-rocks (her blog) ashton@thischairrocks.com (email) @yoisthisageist (Twitter)

Malaika Horne, PhD, is a book author, journalist and academic writer. She is also a board member of STL Village.

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