Sponsored Post via APIA.
Whether we like it or not there is, and always has been, a stigma attached to growing old, especially around aging on the outside and the way we look.
In a youth-centric society, many people are dismissive of grey hair and wrinkles, and I’m not saying this is anything new. The thing is many people get wiser and more competent as they age, so it’s the inside and how we think and perform which really should be more important, but the truth is that perceptions about appearance due to ingrained prejudice often triumph in the end.
Age Discrimination in the workplace
Although older workers contribute knowledge and skills based on years of experience and expertise, ageism still exists. Stereotypes about older people are a major factor behind discrimination when it comes to negative attitudes about ‘use by’ dates for older workers.
There are Australian Bureau of Statistics figures which show that more than 35 per cent of job seekers aged 55 and over stopped looking for work because they believed potential employers thought they were too old.
You’d think that with an ever-growing aging population Australia needs older people to continue working and contributing to economic growth, wouldn’t you? The idea of people retiring at 65 is not cast in stone anymore, and surely in this century, more than ever before, the world needs to change the way it views older people and revalue their potential contribution to the workplace because we are living much longer.
Here’s an interesting article about discrimination in the workplace and ageism in The Age.
Why could staying employed benefit you?
From various research I’ve been learning that there’s a correlation between work and health. Staying challenged and busy in a work situation, it seems, can protect against both physical and mental ill-health as we get older. I know I’ve heard sad stories about people who die of a heart attack, or similar, quite soon after retiring having worked all their life for the so-called retirement dream.
Hidden prejudice unearthed
APIA, an insurance company providing insurance for the Over 50s has conducted an interesting social experiment which reveals hidden prejudice towards the older generation.
Watch the video below, and I challenge you not to squirm as the young people dismiss a dynamic and youthful group of older people (based on photos) as lacking in vitality and not having ‘the right look’.
Spoiler alert: there is a racecar driver, a drone pilot and a personal trainer amongst the ‘oldies’. At the end of the video the casting groups come face to face with the Over 50s talent and their latent prejudices and misconceptions about age are embarassingly laid bare.
APIA Video : The Right Look?
The social experiment was carried out together with a national study to uncover perceptions about those Over 50. The research found that two thirds of respondents aged Over 50 had faced age discrimination in their daily lives as well as feeling misrepresented in the media.
APIA Executive Manager, Geoff Keogh, says the statistics highlight a job to be done: “The research we undertook revealed some startling insights into perceptions of age in Australia. It’s time to break through this stigma and start conversations around the topic. The social experiment highlighted an underlying prejudice that those involved may not have realised existed. Our campaign aims to demonstrate that life experience should be recognised and respected.”
Glenn Ridge believes age should never define what one is capable of and hopes the findings will shift perception and encourage society to think twice before dismissing people who are still shaping the future.
“I’ve found that Over 50s continually endeavor to reinvent themselves and adapt to changing times and situations. Staying vibrant, relevant and open to new experiences is something that’s important at any age, not just as the years add up.” Glenn Ridge, APIA spokesperson.
Too slow? Not fast enough?
If you’ve ever been told that you are too slow, or you don’t learn new things fast enough, or even that you are not keeping up with younger workers, then there is help at hand because the Age Discrimination Act 2004 protects individuals across Australia from discrimination on the basis of age in employment, education, accommodation and the provision of goods and services.
This post, including selected facts and video, are presented by APIA but thoughts and opinions are my own.
What do you Think?
Have you ever been told, or been given the impression that you are too old for a job, or that your skills are outdated, or that it’s not worth retraining because you are nearing retirement? Can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this topic?
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I think the world be belongs, rightly, to the younger generation. We had our chance to shape the world when we were young. Now we should move over, stick to sharing and passing on our wisdom, and let our children have their turn.
Yes, we should accept where we are on our life journey Lyn and I agree, step back from any real limelight. Maybe with us all living longer though lines get blurred around this and somehow we have to stay competitive in order to survive?
Amazing video. I myself have had faced age discrimination when I went for a job interview when I was in between jobs in my late 40s! The interviewer, a 20 something girl, asked if I would be retiring soon? When I did finally get a job, one reason I stuck with it for nearly fifteen years, even though it was unfulfilling personally, was because of her comment. Why would someone want to employ a 50+ lady. Now that I have taken “early retirement” just before my 60th birthday, I feel that the world is open to me to explore new things and be who I really am. Too old? Definitely not! Thank you for bringing this issue to the forefront Jo.
That’s awful Jill! And it’s terrible how stray comments like that can have a lasting effect throughout life and the actions we take.
The not retraining as “you’re nearing retirement” is similar to that business owner’s attitude who says there’s no point spending money on training at all as “they’re only going to leave” – Not thinking… What happens if they stay? LOL
Lets face it – When we were 30 we knew it all (just as the video classically demonstrates) so it’s not easy for confident-centre-of-the-universe 30 year year olds to comprehend that at 60 you’ll in fact have two of their lifetimes of experiences and knowledge that can be drawn upon but, that wisdom comes in a body showing the ravages of its acquisition 😉
I agree Linda. There’s always a more positive scenario to consider. And yes, I agree when we were 30 know-it-alls, I for one, barely gave anyone over 50 a second thought – I didn’t dismiss them, it’s just they belonged to a different generation which thought and acted differently. I hope I treated them with respect, and maybe that’s what’s missing these days – a lack of respect for elders.
I’ve just been speaking with a 30 year old and we both agreed, it would be interesting to see the same experiment done in reverse – ie the oldies having to select the images that they felt best represented the qualities presented from photos of other oldies with of course a few 30 year old images in the mix –
We wondered whether its more a case of going through life only really having eyes for your own age group – Thinking no matter what age – “we” are the best? Would we turn out to be just as prejudiced in that scenario?! 😉
Now that is indeed a very sobering thought Linda, and one that should be considered. I guess we are mostly guilty of thinking our generation is always the best, whichever generation we come from. Or perhaps we would be prejudiced in our choosing in another way … and be guilty of also choosing the 30 year olds from their images, due to all the peripheral brainwashing that we’re exposed to via the media 😉
OMG that video was so enlightening! All of these older people were so attractive and talented yet the young people would not choose one of them for ad campaigns. It is truly disgusting that this is the way young people view us. I did have a job about 7 years ago at the World Series of Surfing and I was discriminated against regularly. All the young hip people in the office referred to me as “Mum” and I was overlooked on many occasions for work projects that I was more than capable of doing. I think this video should be aired nationally on an anti-age discrimination campaign to show everyone what’s going on in society. We need to stamp ageism out for sure!
Hi Kathy, yes I think it’s more important than ever to stamp our discrimination due to age based on looks because we are having to work for much longer these days and many people HAVE to work past retirement. Ageism always existed but it ranks along with any kind of discrimination. Being called Mum in the office must have been belittling rather than funny.
That is SO annoying! Especially that people don’t connect fitness with people over a certain age. Here in Noosa I hang out with a lot of older people who could probably run those youngsters ragged! I’m certainly way fitter and healthier now than I was in my twenties. We look after ourselves better don’t we?!
I agree Annabel. While the video made me cringe, it brought home some truths which I’d suspected all along! Yes, like you I’m much fitter and healthier now than I was in my twenties and thirties.