How does Ageism affect people and their well-being? Ageism is stereotyping and/or discrimination against individuals or groups based on their age. This may be casual or systemic. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors and patterned on sexism and racism. Ageism violates basic human and civil rights. There are no codified laws, national or local, in our country that directly deals with the issue of age discrimination. There are no statutory protection available, only common law actions can be instituted where discrimination based on age is highly unjustified. Ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health, increased social isolation and loneliness, greater financial insecurity, decreased quality of life, and premature death. Older and younger people have been stereotyped in public discourse and on social media. Ageism seeps into many institutions and sectors of society including those providing health and social care, in the workplace, media, and the legal system. Many areas such as employment, health, housing, and politics where younger people’s voices are often denied or dismissed.

Khyati Khatri

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