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Ageism and age discrimination
Ageism and age discrimination

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1 What is ageism and why does it matter?

Ageism refers to the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) directed towards people based on their age. (WHO, 2021).

A diagram featuring three circles in a pyramid formation connected to each other by a line. The top circle has the word ‘Stereotypes’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Cognitive / how we think – Knowledge, beliefs, ideas’. The bottom right circle has ‘Prejudice’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Affective / how we feel – Attitudes, judgements’. The bottom left circle has ‘Discrimination’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Behavioural / how we act – Treating people differently.’
Figure 1: How stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice are defined and can inform each other.
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A diagram featuring three circles in a pyramid formation connected to each other by a line. The top circle has the word ‘Stereotypes’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Cognitive / how we think – Knowledge, beliefs, ideas’. The bottom right circle has ‘Prejudice’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Affective / how we feel – Attitudes, judgements’. The bottom left circle has ‘Discrimination’ in bold text and provides the definition as ‘Behavioural / how we act – Treating people differently.’

Figure 1: How stereotypes, discrimination and prejudice are defined and can inform each other.

Ageism can be institutional, interpersonal or self-directed.

Institutional ageism

Ageism within organisations and the structures and systems that exist within them, such as workplaces or the media.

Example: Health systems that routinely deprioritise older people for certain treatments or assume symptoms are 'just ageing'.

Interpersonal ageism

Ageism within our relationships, how we connect or relate to others.

Example: A social care worker speaking to an older person’s family member instead of the older person themselves.

Self-directed ageism

Ageism within how we direct things at ourselves, an inward reflection, sometimes referred to as internalised ageism.

Example: An older person downplaying symptoms or delaying seeking care because they believe 'it’s just old age'.