The Prejudice of Age (Ageism)

What is Ageism?

As a woman moves from her dynamic forties she suddenly becomes an ‘old lady’ of no value.

Nothing she says need be listened to.

Treated as if mentally defective, voices are often a bit louder, conversations are annotated, and interrupting her is standard, as she can’t be saying anything important.

From a distance she may look in her thirties, but as she nears, and one notices she’s way over that, the whole approach to her changes.

This is Ageism, it is just as virulent as racism and an addition to sexism.   It is making assumptions and treating the person as if she is sub-standard based on her age.

There was a time that the voice of this woman brought instant silence.  Everyone wanted to hear what she had to say.

Now, it is as if she is on mute.  No one hears her voice, no one listens, even if she is answering their questions.

When you look back on your own life, if you had respect for the old, then you will be stunned by the treatment you receive.

If you did not then you tend to feel a pay back.

As a senior you might want to offer information and advice. Don’t bother.

This will only provoke an angry response.

As a senior, things may annoy you because no one would behave this way towards ‘one of their own’.

You don’t want to be the ‘miserable old lady’  so you have to figure out how to make your point in some other way.

Everyone thinks you are too old for this, won’t understand that, and so much of your life is scrutinized.

It is easy to get depressed.

If one turns it all on its head, it becomes almost fun; like knowing how the flick ends, or which horse crosses the finish line first.

You are more aware of deception then you’d be when you were younger, because you’ve seen it before.    As you already know the answer (no) watching people twist themselves into a pretzel is amusing.

The problem of concentration is because you have too much information.  There are so many things on your mind so many memories, that it is having a large data base but on a slow server.

To deal with this glitch you must focus more on what you are doing right now.

Once you force yourself to become self-conscious; posture, place in the universe, what needs to be done now, and limiting yourself to those considerations; (not… I have to go to the bank, I need to pay that bill, I better go to the supermarket as the juice will run out, etc) you won’t be making mistakes.

Cell phone should be kept on silent or vibrate and never used when walking or doing anything.   When you feel the vibration, think of where you are.

If you are on the road, driving or walking, you don’t answer. If it is important they will leave a message and/or call back.

If you are sitting at your desk, you answer.

Make lists; shopping, of course, but also ‘To Do”.   It is very easy to forget with so many ideas in your head that you were supposed to write this or visit that venue.

Expect people to treat you as defective and ride with it.  It is always nice to have people misjudge your ability.