1.3 Age discrimination
Stereotypes and prejudice are how we think and feel. Discrimination is how we act.
Direct age discrimination can be defined as treating people differently based on stereotypes or prejudice.
Indirect age discrimination and be defined as ‘treating everyone the same’ without accounting for individual needs.
Both direct and indirect age discrimination occurs on both a personal and organisational / institutional level.
Activity 4
Think about whether the following are examples of direct or indirect age discrimination:
a.
Direct age discrimination
b.
Indirect age discrimination
The correct answer is a.
Answer
Direct age discrimination, he has been treated differently.
a.
Direct age discrimination
b.
Indirect age discrimination
The correct answer is b.
Answer
Indirect age discrimination, it puts older people at a disadvantage as they are less likely to be digitally included.
a.
Indirect age discrimination
b.
Direct age discrimination
The correct answer is b.
Answer
Direct age discrimination, the employee has been treated differently due to their age.
Age-based stereotypes prime someone to draw very different conclusions when we see an older and a younger adult with back pain or a limp. We might well assume that the younger person's condition is temporary and treatable, following an accident, while the older person's condition is chronic and less susceptible to intervention.
This assumption may have no consequence if someone makes it in the blink of an eye as someone is passing on the street, but if it is held by a health professional offering treatment or managers thinking about occupational health, it could inappropriately influence their actions and lead to age-related discrimination.
This treatment can occur as the result of ageist stereotypes and prejudice or because of a failure to see individual differences.