What is Ageism?
The World Health Organization defines ageism as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel) and discrimination (how we act) towards others or oneself based on age.” Ageism, just like any other “ism” is a harmful form of discrimination that unfortunately affects people of all age ranges. However, older adults are disproportionately targeted. Whether it be in television and films, in the workplace, or even in the products on store shelves, ageism is as prevalent as ever. However, one of the most dangerous forms of ageism often goes unaddressed: internalized ageism.
Internalizing Ageism
Internalized ageism occurs when one begins to impose ageist stereotypes upon oneself. For example, a woman may have seen anti-aging products throughout her life, and now inherently believes that growing old means losing her beauty. Of course this isn’t true, but the reinforcement of these external stereotypes can change the way we think about ourselves. The forces that create internalized ageism begin in childhood; from the movies we watch, the stores we shop at, or even how we interact with our families. Our “youth-oriented” society only makes this more prevalent. This gives us a lifetime to undergo what is referred to as “stereotype embodiment.”
Stereotype Embodiment
Stereotype embodiment is a theory of aging, created by psychologist Becca Levy. To Levy, stereotype embodiment theory is when “stereotypes are embodied when their assimilation from the surrounding culture leads to self-definitions that, in turn, influence functioning and health” (Stereotype Embodiment: A Psychosocial Approach to Aging). When we impose these negative stereotypes upon ourselves, we may be inadvertently causing ourselves to become the very things we were afraid of. Say someone has grown up thinking that growing older means losing mobility; if they continue to believe that this is a guaranteed part of aging, they may not make an effort to stay active as they get older. Failing to maintain a healthy activity level as you get older can often lead to issues with mobility. Without even realizing it was preventable, this person has become the stereotype they feared.
What Can I Do?
If you’re feeling stressed after reading this— don’t be. Levy explains that stereotype embodiment can go in either direction: both positive and negative. When individuals place positive stereotypes and sentiments regarding aging upon themselves, a tangible benefit can be seen. In Levy’s study, older adults that were primed with positive stereotypes, such as becoming wise with age, sported higher scores on both physical and cognitive functioning tests. Instead of falling victim to negative stereotyping, we should recognize all of the positive stereotypes around us too, and strive to reach them. While systemic ageism won’t be undone in a day, we can immediately start the process by changing the way we think about ourselves.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/ageing-ageism
Levy B. Stereotype Embodiment: A Psychosocial Approach to Aging. Curr Dir Psychol Sci. 2009 Dec 1;18(6):332-336. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01662.x. PMID: 20802838; PMCID: PMC2927354. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2927354/
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