Age and Generational Discrimination

Ageism is a big problem in today’s society. It is seen mostly with older adults but younger adults can also experience this as well. Both of these age groups are stereotyped and frowned upon by others. It happens in society within a wide range for each age. Ageism in older adults can vary from giving someone a gloomy birthday card joking about their old age for their birthday. To seeing someone drive slow and assuming its an old person. To discriminating against older adults in the workforce. Most older adults who are still capable to work and are still wanting to work are often discriminated against by employers often having negative attitudes towards older workers. It’s not only hard for older adults to get hired because of ageism but a lot of older adults are getting fired or laid off because of the false perceptions of their age. This is also causing our society to lose many valuable experienced experts in their workplace.

Younger adults can also experience ageism in a wide range as well. From trying to buy your first car and being looked down upon by salesmen. To being stereotyped and similarly being discriminated upon by the workplace. Younger adults in the workplace are seemed by employers to be inexperienced especially when looking for a job right out of college. One example that shows this is in a even younger age is how the minimum wage is set lower than the national wage because of their age. This can also lead to why younger adults don’t get paid for their internships even though they still need to support themselves as well. These are just a few examples of how ageism is common in our society and there is many more examples in our society. A few acts and laws have been put in place to stop ageism such as The Age Discrimination in Employment Act that prohibits employers from discrimination. But there are still many steps that need to be taken to potentially stop and make ageism not as common in our society as it is today.