The Platform
The Platform
Ageism through the ages:
A sustained theme on ageism
1 October - 20 November 2021
Ageism through the ages is a sustained theme on ageism that ran between 1 October (UN International Day of Older Persons) and 20 November 2021 (World Children's Day) as a part of the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism.
During this month and a half, activities here on the Decade Platform and on social media as well as a range of events run by stakeholders around the world brought attention to ageism through the life-course, giving initial
focus to ageism as it affects older people at the beginning of October and moving progressively towards ageism as it affects younger people and children.
You can still get involved with Ageism through the ages and the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism by accessing
the events, resources, activities, and knowledge featured on this hub and submitting your own knowledge about ageism.
Giving focused attention to ageism through a sustained theme provides an invitation to take action to challenge this insidious issue. Ageism through the ages showcases how this phenomenon affects us through our lifetime, encourages the engagement of different stakeholders in the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, and builds a movement to change the narrative around age and ageing.
Learn more about the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism
Get involved with Ageism through the ages and the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism by:
For information about any of the events, resources, and knowledge listed on this hub, please contact the submitter of the item directly by going to the item's page on the Platform.
If you would like to get in touch with
us about Ageism through the ages or the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, please contact:
We all want to live a quality life in our old age but often forget the growing challenges faced by the older population. One of these is ageism, which appears in the form of stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination against older persons. Too often it remains overlooked, even invisible, yet it has many negative consequences on people's quality of life and experience of ageing.
MoreIn late 2020, Changing the Narrative partnered with the Boulder County Area Agency on Aging to create a training video about ageism in healthcare. Our intent? To increase awareness among healthcare professionals, and activate consumers to advocate for themselves and for system changes.
MoreTo disseminate the UN Global Report on Ageism more widely, the ASEM Global Ageing Center (AGAC) is publishing its Korean translation during the ASEM Forum on Human Rights of Older Persons. The theme of the forum is Protection of the Human Rights of Older Persons in Emergency Situations, and Session 4 of the forum will mark the publication of the Korean translation of the report.
MoreThis interactive session will involve a presentation on the key findings of the first UN Global report on ageism, followed by an overview of actions taken at EU level to tackle ageism and opportunities for further action. This will provide a launching pad for a discussion where participants will be challenged to re-think attitudes towards age and ageing, reflect on how ageism affects them and their communities, and learn how they can contribute to help build a world for all ages in their context.
MoreThe Global Campaign to Combat Ageism is organizing the first international screening of the documentary film ‘Duty Free’. The film tells the story of Rebecca Danigelis, a 75-year old woman who gets fired without cause from her lifelong job as a hotel housekeeper. The documentary not only gives visibility to the issue of ageism against older people in the labour market but also exposes the economic insecurity that ensues and shapes the future of many older people worldwide. This international premiere will be followed by a panel debate with Rebecca Danigelis, her son and film Director Sian-Pierre Regis, and ILO Deputy Director-General Martha E. Newton. This debate will offer an opportunity to discuss how ageism in the labour market affects people across countries, and to elaborate on the strategies that can be put in place to reduce or prevent it. This event is part of the sustained theme Ageism through the ages that the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism is running from 1 October (International Day of Older Persons) to 20 November 2021 (World Children’s Day) to give focused attention to ageism as it affects different age groups.
MoreIn recognition of the International Day of Older Persons, Top Sixty will host an open forum on Zoom to identify and promote ideas and activities that everyone can engage in to combat ageism. The demographic shift to "older" will be the norm well into the latter part of the 21st century. If we don't acknowledge the extent to which Western culture has undermined the value and contribution of older people now, the negative stereotypes and myths about ageing will persist. This should be a concern to all of us, including politicians. Ageism negatively impacts individuals, society and future economic prosperity. Let's not wait for leaders, let's become them! Join us to learn about actions and activities that we can all undertake to make a dent in combatting ageism today. All ages are affected and every age counts. Please share this opportunity with friends, family, employers, and others who care.
MoreThe purpose of the Australian National Ageism Awareness Day 2021 is to: • Draw attention to the existence and impacts of ageism • Draw attention to EveryAGE Counts' advocacy campaign and its resources • Engage the interest and support of the community • Bring new organisations and supporters to EveryAGE Counts • Catalyse a social movement and launch EveryAGE Counts resources to support influencers • Where possible, mobilise like-minded organisations, initiatives and campaigns to collaborate in a multi-pronged day of ageism awareness. Our theme for the Day is ‘Ageism - know it, name it’. All our research and experience tells us that the term ‘ageism’ is not as well known or understood as other forms of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. By recognising it and naming it we are then in a stronger position to act. On Ageism Awareness Day, we will be giving people ideas and resources about ways in which they can act to end ageism.
MoreThis year, the International Day of Older Persons (#UNIDOP) will provide a platform for multistakeholder dialogue and serve as a call to action. #UNIDOP2021 will adopt a person centered, human rights approach to ensure digital equity including adequate policies, access, digital literacy and safety for individuals of all ages.
MoreThe United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2021 theme “Digital Equity for All Ages” predicates the need for access and meaningful participation in the digital world by older persons.
MoreJoin us for the regional launch of the first UN Global Report on Ageism. This online event will be broadcast live from Belgrade, Serbia on 27 September, 2021 at 10:00 CET.
MoreAgeism is a global phenomenon, which has serious consequences for individuals and society at large. According to the UN Global report on ageism, half of the world’s population is ageist against older persons. The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light entrenched ageism and age discrimination in many areas including hate speech in public discourse and on social media. Despite its scale and harmful impacts, ageism remains largely unknown and is often considered more acceptable compared to other forms of discrimination. The report of the UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons to the 48th session of the HRC (A/HRC/48/53), examines ageism and age discrimination, analyses their possible causes and manifestations, and reviews the way the existing legal and policy frameworks at the international and regional levels protects older persons against ageism and age-discrimination. This side event of the 48th session will bring to the fore real-life experiences of ageism and age discrimination faced by older persons and will take stock of the Independent Expert’s conclusions and recommendations with the aim to discuss strategies to address and prevent ageism and age discrimination and to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of older persons.
MoreThis short perspective article considers ageism in relation to dementia, why young people are important in tackling ageism and stigma, and the...
MoreThis report identifies stereotypes, attitudes and beliefs about age that prevail in Australia, and captures some of the ways in which people in...
MoreThe Global report on ageism outlines a framework for action to reduce ageism including specific recommendations for different actors (e.g....
MoreIn the report to the 48th session of the Human Rights Council (A/HRC/48/53), the Independent Expert examines and raises awareness of the...
MoreThis publication is a fact sheet about ageism in Myanmar which contains quotes from older people about their experiences of ageism. Ageism is...
MoreRestoring community strength following devastation of natural disasters requires focused and enduring commitment. The most pressing recovery...
MoreTo help understand how the COVID-19 context is affecting the voices of older people, HelpAge conducted a survey of organisations working with...
MoreThis research brief synthesizes scholarship and research exploring the concept of ageism, its multifaceted forms, impacts, and redresses. Ageism is...
MoreOlder people are stereotypically portrayed in the media at two extremes of a spectrum, either the healthy and happy retiree, or frail and sick older...
MoreAgeism is hard to see, but it is everywhere – in our beliefs, institutions and relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic has showed us how deeply rooted ageism is in every aspect of society. There are so many layers to ageism that no one action can address it all. To make a real difference, we need a systems approach. This animation explains systemic ageism and encourages campaigners to use a systems approach to tackling ageism.
MoreThis film takes you on a journey through experiences of ageism across the life course, showing how ageism affects everyone, everywhere. The film encourages us to reflect on our own thoughts, feelings, and actions towards age and ageing, and aims to spark conversations and actions to tackle ageism and create #AWorld4AllAgesโ. To find out more and join the movement, visit: https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demographic-change-and-healthy-ageing/combatting-ageism
MoreThis video explores the experience of giving and receiving ageist birthday cards and how this is a reflection of our ageist culture. It is also a call to action to use birthdays to send people a positive message about being alive no matter what their age be it very early in the journey or later on.
MoreCOVID-19 has exposed ageism: discrimination on the basis of a person’s age. As we grow older our lives do no become disposable. COVID-19 is no excuse for ageism. Amnesty International and HelpAge made a video to highlight the ageism seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
MoreAs we grow older, our lives do not become disposable. Older people are us. They are our family members, our caregivers, our workers and neighbours. We need decision-makers to listen to what older people have to say, and ensure they have equal access to prevention measures, support and services, wherever they live. This animation aims to challenge viewers' assumptions about older people and old age.
MoreThis video has been made to motivate us to live healthily, and be physically active and be socially engaged. Population ageing is becoming a major worldwide trend. In India, the older population are clustered predominantly in rural areas, of which a large number comprises women. This documentary follows the story of an older woman named Anima Biswas, who lives in a village in West Bengal, India. Presently she is 86 year old and we found her as a living example of how positive choices determines our wellness. Watch this documentary to find out the fact that how the wisdom and awareness of an old lady can motivate society to fulfil the goal of ‘Swasthya Bharat (Healthy India)’.
MoreA programme of work at the University of Sheffield supports and promotes the sexual rights of older adults, part of which involves providing reliable information about sexual health and sexual well-being as we get older. Through research, older adults consistently highlight the lack of available information on sexual issues for the over 50s. The website Age, Sex and You has been designed to meet these needs. It provides general information, all in one place, about the sexual changes that can occur with older age. It can be difficult to talk about sex because it is a private topic, and sexual health campaigns rarely include older adults. As a result, there is a silence around the sexual issues as we get older and a need to improve sexual health awareness in this area. Age, Sex and You is a public health website that is free to use. It aims to support healthy sexual ageing for the millions of older adults to whom sex and intimacy are important.
MoreOld School is a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it. The site contains blogs, books, articles, videos, speakers, and other tools (workshops, handouts, curricula etc.) that are accessible to the general public. The goal of the Old School Clearinghouse is to inform and help catalyze a movement to make ageism as unacceptable as any other kind of prejudice. We created it because movements need tools, best practices, and ways to share them. To that end, and because this work can be hard and lonely, in 2021 we began hosting quarterly, virtual Movement-Builders Convenings for people who identify as pro-aging/ anti-ageism advocates. A related Google Group enables participants to learn more about and support each other's work.
MoreThe WHO Ageing Data Portal, part of the Decade of Healthy Ageing Platform, brings together data on available global indicators relevant to monitoring the health and well-being of people aged 60 years and over. Through maps, charts and tables, the portal offers tailored options for visualization and analysis of the data. This information will strengthen the visibility of older people, help inform action to improve health and well-being in countries in line with global, regional and national commitments.
MoreEligibility: 18–30. We are sorry, but you cannot apply; please apply when you turn 18. The number of times I have seen or heard this is countless....
MoreSix years ago on the occasion of my seventieth birthday, I published a column about the passage of time in a forum for doctors. One man asked...
MoreANTAMA which means “TOGETHER”, is a Social Cooperative Enterprise founded in June 2020. At the end of 2019, the co-founder of ANTAMA, Sofia Pattakou, with her parents and loved ones already in their 70s, felt the need to create an organization that would implement activities, aiming to empower people aged 65+, cultivate intergenerational connection/ interaction and endorse active ageing, through physical participation, initially in the Attiki region. The Covid pandemic changed everything and up to now, the organizations has: launched an on-line intergenerational activity, named WISE2GETHER, where our volunteers, people aged 65+ take the lead and provide advice to younger correspondents on a variety of topics; ran an on-line survey at 140 people aged 18-45, in order to get information about their relationships and beliefs towards people aged 65+; implemented an on-line intergenerational activity together with the Hellenic Children's Museum in spring, where people aged 4-15 and 65+ were invited to dedicate a drawing, painting or writing to their beloved one (younger to older and vice versa); and is preparing 2 intergenerational activities for October (one being an ‘’Intergenerational Festive Day’’ together with the Hellenic Society for the Study & Research of AGING). ANTAMA aims to create synergies and work close with Institutions and other organisations, so as to pinpoint significant issues, and raise voices in the benefit of older people.
MoreArt Against Ageism is an alliance of creatives, artists, and activists committed to identifying, amplifying, and creating artistic endeavors that confront and address damaging stereotypes about age and aging. We bring together art and activism to supercharge anti-ageism campaigns.
MoreFor All Ages is Connecticut’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting the generations and inspiring action to end loneliness, reduce ageism, and improve health and well-being. Through evidence-informed programs and events, For All Ages creates positive, collaborative experiences between the generations that showcase the wisdom and vibrancy of older adults while countering the loneliness and isolation that are at epidemic levels across all age groups. We enrich lives, promote kindness and caring, and provide social connection for people of all ages that improves mental and physical health. Since launching in 2019, our volunteer-driven organization has facilitated thousands of hours of intergenerational programming, serving residents across the state.
MoreThe A40s - The Association of Women over 40 is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, aiming at promoting the welfare of women over 40 in Greece and beyond. Women over 40 years of age face the consequences of both these discriminations in every aspect of their lives including the workplace, in employability, in accessibility to pensions and other health services, insurance and basic commodities. The A40s provide professional empowerment, psychological support and social awareness about gendered ageism. We also act as a community of nearly 14,000 people in Greece, wishing to make a profound change regarding the image and the rights of people over 40.
MoreAge-based discrimination is the most prevalent form of discrimination (Abrams et al., 2011), yet it is still under-researched. Most ageism research focuses on discrimination against older workers, in spite of the fact that individuals can often be judged not only as too old, but also as too young (i.e., bidirectional ageism). Perceptions of workplace competences may be guided by ageist assumptions and culminate in HR practices discriminating against either younger or older workers. As a result, people belonging to a group discriminated on the basis of age may perceive organizational policies as unfair, which could lead to negative individual and organizational consequences. This three-year project has started in February 2020, and will culminate with a book for the general audience, “Resumos da Fundação”. Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation is the funding institution of this project. CATÓLICA-LISBON School of Business and Economics, as the coordinating institution, and Iscte -Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (namely the Department of Social and Organizational Psychology and the Centre for Social Research and Intervention (CIS_Iscte), as a collaborating institution, are working together in the implementation of this project.
MoreThe first UN Global Report on Ageism (18th March 2021) has unveiled ageism as an old yet highly prevalent phenomenon, which extends worldwide and has a dramatic impact: "Ageism is associated with earlier death (by 7.5 years), poorer physical and mental health, and slower recovery from disability in older age." The Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030 does not just clash with the COVID-19 pandemic, insofar as it suddenly exhausted health and socioeconomic systems, but urgently needs to confront this old problem of age-based stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. In response to the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism's call for "A World for All Ages", this Special Issue aims to provide selected contributions from quantitative and qualitative research or reviews, as well as promote new initiatives tackling ageism from different disciplines and perspectives.
MoreChanging the Narrative is a campaign to change the way that people think, talk and act about aging and ageism. Our goal? Ending Ageism Together. We believe that it takes many people of all ages to end ageism, and that co-generated solutions will help us get there. Our core strategies include: —Narrative change: We provide training and technical assistance on reframing aging, based on the research conducted by The FrameWorks Institute. We also engage in storytelling, through our own online platforms, as well as earned and social media, to share the benefits of older people and intergenerational teams. —Community education and organizing: We facilitate workshops on ending ageism, and sponsor campaigns to educate and engage people in the effort to combat ageism, including for example, an anti-ageist birthday card campaign, and a poetry contest to enlist people of all ages to write poems that celebrate aging. Knowing the extent of workplace age discrimination, we also educate employers about the business case for older workers and intergenerational teams, and partner with the Age Friendly Institute to certify employers as "age-friendly." —Intergenerational education and conversations: We have created a toolkit that allows anyone, anywhere to host and facilitate intergenerational conversations about ageism —Policy research and advocacy: We conduct and compile research, and form coalitions to advocate for stronger policies and programs to end ageism. For example, we are currently engaged in advocacy to strengthen age discrimination laws and to ensure that post-pandemic "rebuilding" funding is used to reskill, upskill, and nextskill workers of all ages.
MoreOur vision is “a society where every person is valued, connected and respected regardless of age”. We will achieve this by working in our communities to positively change thinking about ageing, to re-imagine getting older and to set the foundations for current and future generations to age well. We began in October 2018 with a strong foundation of 20 members including The Benevolent Society, the Australian Human Rights Commission, COTA Australia, National Seniors, Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia; Regional Australia Institute; the Australian Association of Gerontology and Aged and Community Services Australia. It has since grown to include many diverse organisational members and individuals. We have all accepted and agreed to act upon the campaign pledge at https://www.everyagecounts.org.au/take_the_pledge. EveryAGE Counts is spearheaded by The Benevolent Society. Funding is received from The Benevolent Society and a philanthropic grant through the Wicking Foundation.
MorePositive Ageing Week (PAW) is an annual opportunity to highlight the positive aspects of ageing and celebrate the contribution older people have made and continue to make in their communities. Its central aim is to dispel negative perceptions of ageing and transform attitudes towards ageing and older people. The Galway Age Friendly Alliance which comprises local agencies and representatives of older people, facilitate and organise a range of activities and events. The flagship event is an exhibition of 27 older persons who are active, and engaged in their lives and communities and who enrich the lives of others. Another initiative involves children colouring a specially designed card and writing a message of thanks to an older person of significance in their lives. Many other local and county wide events are encouraged and supported throughout the week and are promoted and highlighted on various media channels.
MoreUncertain Futures is a participatory research project centered around a collaborative artwork at Manchester Art Gallery, which aims to highlight intersectional issues in work for women over 50 focusing on gender, age, race, disability, migration and socio-economic backgrounds. Developed by an Advisory Group formed of women over 50 years of age linked to Manchester’s diverse communities in collaboration with artist Suzanne Lacy, Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester City Council Work and Skills, Uncertain Futures aims to co-research conditions around access to work, issues within work and issues leaving work for women over 50 with the University of Manchester: School of Social Sciences, Department of Law (Dr. Elaine Dewhurst) and Manchester Metropolitan University: Department of Social Care and Social Work (Dr. Sarah Campbell). An additional work package has been added to highlight the impact of what the group has termed the “Covid+ effect” on discrimination and inequality: how existing forms of discrimination and inequality have been exacerbated by Covid-19. Uncertain Futures will open in 2021 with an installation in the Gallery hosting interviews with 100 women from all walks of life, alongside workshops, talks, and media presentations that explore survival and equity issues. The research aims to understand the interconnection between women's experiences of work with their age, race, gender, and other relevant aspects of their identities. The research involves an analysis of the interviews alongside the development of a website which will host policy and research briefings on these challenging topics.
MoreThis guide was developed to support campaigners to explore systemic ageism. Systemic ageism...
MoreLanguage and images convey meaning, which feed assumptions and judgements that can lead to...
MoreThis toolkit was designed for the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, an initiative part of the UN...
MoreConsciousness-raising is a tool that uses the power of personal experiences to unpack...
MoreThis one-hour workshop is designed to raise awareness of what ageism is, how it appears in our...
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