Ageism: Age stereotypes, an invisible problem

Abstract

Age discrimination, or ageism, is a deep-rooted social phenomenon that categorizes and hierarchizes people according to their age group, without valuing their capabilities or conditions, externalizing prejudices, stereotypes and discriminatory acts towards individuals or groups, either because they are too young or too old. Although this form of discrimination can be experienced at various stages of life, its manifestations and consequences tend to be particularly acute in certain generational groups, especially in the case of older adults. Despite its prevalence, ageism remains largely invisible in statistics and public discourse. Based on a review of the existing literature, we analyze the various ways in which ageism manifests itself in areas such as employment, health, interpersonal relationships and social participation. The purpose of this essay is to examine the structural causes underlying ageism, as well as its impact on people's lives, in order to raise awareness, make the problem visible, promote a more inclusive and equitable society for all ages, initiate debate on the subject and contribute to knowledge through the presentation of interdisciplinary perspectives that integrate different academic fields.