Elements of Ageism 1: Assessing older Australians’ experience of everyday ageism

The term ageism was first coined by the gerontologist Robert Butler in 1969 to draw attention to “prejudice by one age group toward other age groups.”

Ageism affects people of all ages but is particularly harmful to older people.

As people move through life from youth into old age, they become increasingly subject to negative ageist stereotypes and prejudices. For example, there are prevalent ageist views that older people are a burden to society, out of touch, unattractive, all the same, ineffectual, forgetful, and frail.

Ageism is not benign. A 2021 report by WHO found that ageism is associated with poorer physical and mental health, greater financial insecurity, increased social isolation and loneliness, decreased quality of life, and premature death. An estimated 6.3 million cases of depression globally are estimated as being attributed to ageism.

In the US alone, the one-year cost of ageism on health spending for major conditions was calculated as $63 billion or one of every seven dollars spent.

In Australia, research on ageism has focused primarily on barriers to employment and healthcare faced by older people due to age prejudice and stereotypes. Work conducted by the advocacy organisation EveryAGE Counts has further contributed to understanding the drivers of ageism, specifically the negative perceptions of both younger and older people about ageing.

This report aims to examine older people’s experiences of ageism that occur in the context of everyday life and stem from stereotypes and misconceptions about ageing.

Everyday ageism is often subtle and may not be intentionally discriminatory. Nonetheless, it can convey hostility and rejection and devalue older people.

We need to know how older people themselves experience ageism and which groups are more likely to be affected, if we are to work towards eliminating ageism and the harm caused to individuals and society more broadly.