Ageism is a significant roadblock in the fast-paced world and the concurring evolutions we are facing all around us. Ageism is only a projection of prejudice, especially in the era of so many technological and healthcare advancements. To ensure the betterment of our nation and the world, we all need to combat ageism from early on.
We must fight against ageism in various walks of our daily lives. This is because, according to the statistics of WHO, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years is projected to nearly double from 12% to 22% between 2015 and 2050. That means 1/3 of all Americans will be over 65 by 2050 – the highest number ever.
At the same time, the percentage of kids under 5 years of age will be at an all-time low. In these shifting demographics, we must be prepared to make the best of the situation. Hence, it demands a collective effort to fight against ageism and promote intergenerational collaboration. A notable example of this effort can be seen in schools teaching anti-ageism courses.
In a progressive move towards fostering a more inclusive and age-friendly society, the New York City (NYC) Aging Department has joined forces with NYC Public Schools. They are collaboratively working to launch an innovative pilot program addressing ageism. This crucial initiative involves incorporating anti-ageism education into the curriculum of high school students.
The initiative shows us a positive trend toward fighting ageism early on. By integrating anti-ageism courses into high school education, students can learn about the challenges older adults face. This will help them grow a deeper understanding and incentive for intergenerational working.
Many high schools and coursework have started integrating teaching anti-ageism into their curriculum. However, these efforts will be truly successful when we all come forward and fight back against ageism together. Here are some crucial ways we can follow to fight against ageism.
Education and Awareness: Promoting ageism awareness is crucial in combating this issue. Schools, community organizations, and media outlets can play a vital role in raising awareness about ageist stereotypes and biases. This can help us all understand the importance of intergenerational understanding to fight back against ageism.
Intergenerational Programs: Encouraging intergenerational programs and activities can help break down stereotypes regarding old age. This will help us to foster positive relationships between different age groups. Creating opportunities for meaningful interactions and collaborations between younger and older individuals can erase our ageist attitudes.
Personal Reflection and Practices: Engaging in personal reflection and challenging our biases is essential in fighting ageism. Recognizing and refraining from using derogatory language or ageist jokes can make a significant difference. Treating individuals of all ages with respect, dignity, and inclusivity in our daily interactions is a powerful way to combat ageism at an individual level.
Fighting against ageism is not always linear. But we must be aware and educated about how ageism can hinder our opportunities and create setbacks toward our progress. Especially for the future, we need all our resources to make positive changes and awareness.
With positive trends like schools teaching against ageism, we can take a step forward to mitigate ageism once and for all. Make sure to contribute to the discussion in our forum. Register and join the movement today.
