Ageism
Ageism is one of the new isms that come with racism and sexism. And believe it or not everyone is a little bit prejudicial about everything. And I just found an interesting fact, people face ageism more than racism and sexism combined. Something to think about and this totally relates to my other post. In case you didn’t already know ageism refers to discrimination against someone because of their age.
What I experience the almost ALL of the adults in my life are very much like the following.
Adultism bias against youth
I’m always stuck home every single day of my life.
When I was 8 I told my mom that I wanted to go over to my cousin’s house to play.
She told me that he’s crazy and hyper even though she never met him in his life.
I already met him and he was (and still is) a very calm kid.
My mom use his age as an excuse even though she never met him.
Adultcentrism Adults who think they are better than the youth and anyone young is basically retarded.
Around the same age (8) this lady was asking me about school.
I told her it was near and that I walk there.
She didn’t believe me. “But you’d get lost” and had the same you silly girl smile as the last woman I talked about.
I went to the same school for 3 years by that time. You’d think I’d know the way already. But walking a couple a blocks seems too complicated for any child in an adults eyes.
There is discrimination against older people too. Forcing to early retire and such. I just can’t think of too much right now because I really don’t know but I’m sure there is.
Can we ever try to get over these type of stereotypes? I think ageism is hardest to diminish and I don’t know if that would ever happen. Maybe we could work around it somehow. Like don’t force someone to retire if they really don’t want to, let them die doing what they want/need to do.
I’m a bit of a hypocrite. I’m only human. Whenever I see a blogger who is 12 I feel like they are going to talk about teenybopper stuff. Good thing for me, I’m usually right. Teenybopper stuff is not a bad thing it just doesn’t interest me. I know I don’t have to read it but I feel like if they took time to write it then it must be important for them. No 12 year-old has surprised me yet sadly, but I’m sitting it patiently and waiting for it to happen.
I dig what you’re saying. I kinda look down on the youth sometimes which is wrong but at the same time its because I’ve been where they are. I know some cool kids though. My nephew is like 12 going on 13 and he’s like one of my best buddies. I love that little boy. I guess it depends on the person and not the age. At or least it should.
Yeah, ageism. Sad.
Like at work, you will easily get the job if you are not over 30. Yay.
Thanks.
I’m always discriminated by potential employers. They don’t like that I’m only 17 even though you only have to be 16 to work for them.
Yeah, hyper little kids come to mind when I think of 8 year olds. I know that I wasn’t hyper though, so I have no idea why I’m so quick to draw assumptions.
I kind of have to disagree. 8 years old is pretty young, kind of dangerous walking to school w/o an adult. I mean an 8 year old obviously would be smart enough to get to school but not strong enough to resist abduction.
Yeah, I think its rude to force people to retire. People go on and on about how old people are wise and crap. If they really believed that, they would consider them a valuable employee and not pressure them into retiring.
Lol, I’m only 17… not much older than 12. Do I give you the teeny bop impression? lol
Wow, your only 16? I had thought you were in your twenties. You sounds so… smart? Lol
Wow, I know exactly what you’re saying. Some people think that I can’t do something just because of my age. It’s almost as though some people patronize others only because they are a few years younger. It can be quite frustrating =/
I know exactly what you mean. I hate to admit it, but I have been guilty of ageism. I do the exact same thing when I see blogs of 13 or 14 year olds. Most often, they just write about becoming mini Paris Hiltons.
I’m 22 so even when I see a blogs like yours and I look at your age, I get hesitant. But I like your post. You seem really interesting and seem to not post about the joys of being an heiress, lol.
Ahhh I love your blogs, Im glad there not teeny bopperish. There interesting and are different everytime I come.
I think I have ageism, I hate anyone who is younger than me, well younger, blonder, skinnier and stupider.
Gahh! I’m always discriminated about my age. . It’s really sucky because some people think that young people are immature, etc; and my dad even got ageism’ed by his employer because he was apparently ‘too old’.
I totally agree with everything you said. although, i have to edmit i do sometimes look down on younger people. i guess i shouldn’t.
i’m sick of adults not taking my opinion seriously because they think i’m too young.
eugh
Hei!!!
Teens have their own world. We have been there and we know what its like… and lucky for us, we do not need to read their blogs.
Have a nice weekend.
Once I applied for this volunteer position, but they didn’t accept me probably because there were older candidates to choose from.
Thanks for commenting on my blog, lol, when I said “kids”, I was talking about teens, since most of my friends love that show… maybe i should change it so people don’t get confused.
Great blog =] Thanks for your input on my friend’s situation. I really appreciate it!
OH. I so get what you mean. Ageism… I’ve never heard of it before, but now you mention it it’s actually SO common. It’s so sad… I just hope that when we’re adults we won’t be so mean to the kiddies.
I’m TWELVE. What’s teenybopper? It sounds well… eight year old-ish. Am I being ‘ageist’? Oh well.
I HAVE to care about school. I’m the class rep xD And anyways, summer’s so boring that school is kind of a relief. I woke up late today though. The magic spark is only for the first day.
Good luck
Hey i finally got a chance to reply to a comment you left me. You said not to worry about the net and to enjoy my time. and I have but sometimes i get so excited i want to share what i’ve done with my visitors, I think I did pretty good myself :)thanks so much for your comment though.
I’ve encountered ageism myself, not only from our own parents but from others too, its not very fair and i don’t knwo why we do it, why do we do it? What are we thinking about at the time? For those that are older and do it, why do they do it, what are they thinking? Haven’t they been in our position at one time or another? You have a good question, will it ever end? My kids will probably be asking that same question one day, lets hope not.
I’ve known about Ageism since the 6th grade, and experienced it since birth. I hate it when my parents tell me I’m not mature enough to date, and that I’m not old enough to think for myself clearly.
My parents barely know me. The most they know about me is my favrouite stuff. That’s not a lot. It’s kinda sad that they can’t take the time to know me properly and yet they’ve lived with me for at least 14 years.
I’m a bit of a discriminator too. Like you, a lot with younger kids.
I overheard these 10 year old girls talking about that their gonna post some pictures that they just took in the hallways on My Space. At first I was like, “What are you two doing on My Space”? But I wanted one at 12, lol.
I deal with it to and have dealt with it. I wrote a poem when I was about 8 and no adult believed that I wrote it.
And Millie, it’s the same thing with my parents, too.
Your post made me think. I think I used to do that too, but now I’m 18 and I think age doesn’t really matter much anymore. I used to think someone who was ONE year younger than me was very young, and probably not as “wise” as me. *coughs* Silly me. Luckily I don’t think about it that way anymore!
That intresting,hmm I have felt the second description before.
Anywho I GOT MY OWN DOMAIN =) and I’ve transfer all my files thanks to Brian,and now All I haveleft is setting up cutenews/making a new layout/and fixing a few things,and making it public =)
I don’t think ageism will ever fade, we’re all born in different eras and we’re taught different things, how to act and how others should act etc. etc. And who know how we will react on things 8-year olds do when we’re old ladies. You seem young to me now, not less wise though, but when I’m 74 and you’re 70, I wouldn’t even know the difference anymore. Time teaches huh.
eh yeah around ur age iam 17 lolz.
lolz hummm ibteresting blog….i mean i hear stuff like this all the time…my b/f tells me he would kill himself before he gives old because being old is nasty.
and u always hear older ppl insulting teens about the way of life like when they talk bout how they hate new aged music blahz
Y’know, I honestly don’t think we can ever get over these stereotypes. Every generation will always feel superior than the ones ahead of it, and with all the stuff going on in the world nowadays, I don’t really blame them but I do think they need to take into consideration that there are plenty of differences between back then and the present.
I totally understand about tween/teen bloggers. When I was at that age, the stuff I wrote about meant the world to me, but when I look back on it now, I realize there are bigger things in the world. Sometimes though, blogs are somethin’ to look back on in say 3 months just to see how much has changed. But yeah, I do applaud some of them for being brave enough to share something meaningful…when they do.
Alright, time for me to shut up now.
Oh well, confession time.
I really dislike some 15 and below year old bloggers. Some can be great to read.
I know a couple of bloggers that were all nice when they started blogging, once they got a few comments a day, they’re acting like they’re something better that everyone else lol, talk about handling “fame”.
But I also know a few other young bloggers, great articles, wouldn’t trade them for the world.