Vintage Classics: What Ageism Chooses To Ignore

Notwithstanding my last blog on new opportunities in later life, I thought it would be important to acknowledge how challenging it can be to remain feeling relevant in a society that isn’t without its age bias. Ageism isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle, with a look, a comment, or an assumption. It can be found lurking in employment descriptions or media where youth is the currency of choice. How ever it shows up, ageism can leave us feeling invisible, devalued, and irrelevant. Whether entering a new career later in life, returning to study, or simply noticing the way society tends to prize youth above experience, the sting of ageism can be deeply personal. It may trigger feelings of shame, self-doubt, anger, or even grief. And while it would probably be impossible to prove ageism in any challenge to this often thinly veiled discrimination, it’s important to acknowledge that these experiences are real, and they are deeply hurtful.

One of the most insidious effects of ageism is how easily we can internalise it. It’s common for us to question our worth and wonder if we’ve been left behind by the rest of the world. The truth, of course, as we know it, is that age does not diminish our value. It brings perspective, resilience, and qualities learned and developed from a vibrant, lived experience. So, it’s really important that we challenge our own perceptions of what it means for us.  When we experience ageism, we must allow ourselves to acknowledge how uncomfortable that feels. Naming the experience, whether it’s having been overlooked, patronised, or dismissed, is so important in reclaiming our voice because suppressing it simply reinforces the negative experience. Age is not a limitation; it is a conduit through which we channel our unique capabilities and lived experience. It’s so easy to feel disheartened when comparing our journey to someone else’s but our paths have equal value, no matter where, when or how they meander.

Experiencing discrimination of any kind can take a considerable toll on our wellbeing and ageism is a powerfully toxic tool in the hands of the prejudiced. Remember that a supportive, non-judgemental space can help to process the hurt, rebuild confidence, and reconnect us with our inner strengths. Midlife and beyond can be a time of reinvention, growth, connection, and courage. It’s never too late, and the story is far from over.

Mind yourself. 

Alan.