(Redirected from
Age discrimination)
Ageism is bias against a person or group on the grounds of age. When that bias is the primary motivation behind acts of discrimination against that person or group, then those acts constitute age discrimination.
The two most common forms
Although ageism can refer to bias against any age group, ageism (and age discrimination) are usually focused on two targets:
Examples
Ageism
An example of ageism is thinking that all teenagers like rock music, are immature and insubordinate, use slang and profanity, and watch R-rated movies; or that all elderly are slow, weak, senile, and dependent.
Age discrimination
Although like all forms of discrimination, age discrimination has always been a problem, it is most severe at present in the entertainment and computer industries. Many elderly actors, musicians, scriptwriters, programmers, and electrical engineers have all complained that it is difficult for them to find work, even though they are overwhelmingly well-qualified in terms of education and experience.
Responses
Grass-roots activism
Many groups have been set up in various countries to combat age discrimination, including:
Unions
Many unions have thrown themselves into the battle against age discrimination. At present, the most prominent example is the Writers Guild of America West, which since 2002 has been waging a huge legal battle against much of the entertainment industry to get rid of the age discrimination commonly faced by elder scriptwriters.
Laws
There are many laws against age discrimination, including:
Further reading
See also
