SocialIssuesandSocialJusticeMovements:GlobalandLocalLinks

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NatureoftheProblem(5)
Ageism is a prevalent issue that takes place in many settings, especially in the work
environment. The AARP has evidence supporting the significance of ageism. First, 1 in 5
workers in the US is at least age 55. Second, 64% of workers claimtohavewitnessedoreven
experienced age discrimination in the workplace. Third, 58% of adults believe workers in their
50s already begin toexperienceagediscrimination.Someofthisis quitesurprising.Ipersonally
assumed ageism applied to people past retirement age, but it turns out that those in their 50s
are subjected just the same. I have talked to many retirees, and they insist that 50 may notbe
young,butisalsodefinitelynotold.

Root(structural)cause(s)oftheproblem(10)
There are many reasons behind agediscrimination.A2013researchstudybyPrinceton
identified 3 key stereotypes: Succession, the idea that older people should hand over
highpaying jobs and influential social roles to young people Identity,theideathatolderpeople
should act their age and not younger and Consumption, the idea that olderpeopleshouldlimit
their consumptionofscarceresources,includinghealthcare.AnarticleonForbesadds ontothe
list with rigidity, poor health, technophobia, resistance to change, lack of energy, and risk
averse.

Most of these examples especially apply in the work environment, but there are big
players that influence the way we perceive older folk, whether we realize it or not. The fashion
industry is a big one. Vogue has an article that explained a lot of this. It claims that female
models are almost exclusively ages 16 to26,whichisnothardtobelieve.Itagreesthatfashion
canbedescribedasafantasy,butitalsoisarepresentativeofideals.

Keyplayersandroles(5)

I have been unable to find any key playersagainstagediscriminationthroughmoderate

searching, which is evidence within itself of the nature of the situation. Ageism has even been
referred to as The Last Acceptable Form of Discrimination, as the title of a Huffington Post
article. There are activists such as Ashton AppletonandMargaretGullet.Theyareauthorswho
claim to beveryengagedinspreadingawarenessandtheyare theproblemisthatthey,among
others, are not well known because ageism has not been determined to be severe enough to
warrantlargescalechange.

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EachSMOsorganization,goals,andhistoryofdevelopment(5)

The Gray Panthers is an elder rights organization in the US. It was founded by Maggie
Kuhn in 1970 after her forced retirement at the age of 65. The organization started off as the
Consultation of Older and Younger Adults for Social Change, and worked to change the
mandatory retirement age as well as end the Vietnam War. Two years later, a talk show
producerinNewYorknicknamedthemtheGrayPanthers,whichwasadoptedbythegroup.

Leadershipstructureandrolesofcitizeninputs(5)
The group asof2010isaparticipatorydemocracy,allowingthevoicesofallmembersto
be heard and considered. The organization more resembles a network of GrayPanthergroups
across the nation there are two branches centered in the Twin Cities and Detroit for example,
butthereisnotmuchevidenceofacenter.

Majoractivities(solutions,strategies,successesandfailures)(10)
The Gray Panthers encourage people to change their perspectives on aging. The Twin
Cities branch in particular has a section on its website addressing the myths of aging and how
to defy ageism. Examples of the latter include throw yourself a birthday party, write to your
local news media when a headline or cartoon is ageist, and get to know people across age
boundaries. They host discussions and workshops where they voice their values, as well as
give participants of varying backgrounds, not just ages, to interact with each other. The results
of a survey by Gray Panthers NYC suggested that those who were familiar with the Gray
Panthers knew about its origins, and considered it an effectiveorganizationatadvocatingelder
rights. On the other hand, the results showed that plenty of participants also askedthatpeople
of color and different sexualities be included in the group. This suggests that while the
organization is advocating a form of equality, ithastroubleincludingpeoplewhoaredifferentin
areasasidefromage.

Evaluatetheirstrategiesandprospectsforsuccess,andincludeyoursuggestions(5)
The Gray Panthers organization as a whole does not seem to have a strong, central
foundation it is more like many smaller groups bearing the Gray Panther name working fairly
autonomously of each other. Thegroupclaimstosupportother formsofequality,butthesurvey
results from the NYC branch suggest it may havetroublewiththatinternally.EvenastheBlack
Panthers try to raise awareness for age equality, it has been criticized for focusing almost
exclusively on improving conditions for older people. I think a central office should be
established, as well as a main website (not including the Facebook page) that would firmly
establish the values and goals for the other branches to follow, and help bring out national
awareness. While I agree that locally, they do agoodjobofspreadingawareness,itseemslike
theysimplyarenotverywellknownoverall.

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EachSMOsorganization,goals,andhistoryofdevelopment(5)

HelpAge International originated as a network of five organizations in Canada,

Columbia, Kenya, India, and the UK. Itwassetupin1983andhelpscombatagediscrimination
on a global scale. The original concept of a global network for older peoples organizations
started in 1980. Chris Beer the CEO of HelpAge International, noted that the older refugees
from Ethiopia and Somalia were not being taken care of, which then confirmed the need for
suchanorganization.Itcurrentlyhasover100affiliates.

Leadershipstructureandrolesofcitizeninputs(5)
Helpage is a global nonprofit organization, with nine regional centers. It is similar to
Black Panthers in that there are many branches underthename,buttheyareconnectedunder
a stronger network, and even have an appointed CEO. Smaller sections serve as a way to
organize volunteers regionally for projects not necessarily in their own countries. In the USA
branch,mostoftheprojectslistedtakeplaceindevelopingcountries.

Majoractivities(solutions,strategies,successesandfailures)(10)
The organization is involved with the ageism movement on many levels. It lobbies to
advocate policy change, conducts research, and sponsors community projects. HelpAge also
participates in emergency responses one statistic shown on the HelpAge USA site was that
56% of those who died in the 2011 Japanesetsunamiwereage65andabove.The research in
conducts reveals information like this that show even in times of crisis, there is still age
discrimination. It organization also created a global watch index that ranks countries based on
four categories, each encompassing a number of indicators. These categories are income
security, health status, capability, and enabling environment. They are especially geared
towards monitoringthewellbeingofagingpopulations,butInoticedthat eachgrouphasalready
been addressed in previous sociology lectures. HelpAge has also helped in issues about HIV
andAIDS,remindingeveryonethattheoldareoftencaretakersoftheothersick.

Evaluatetheirstrategiesandprospectsforsuccess,andincludeyoursuggestions(5)
HelpAge has shown many formsofengagementinitseffortstoimprove livingconditions
for older folk all over the world. The organization appears to be more structured,havingoffices
varying in level of responsibility. HelpAge emphasizes that it is a global organization and has
shown that it is more than a collection of individual groups working individually. While there is
nothing explicitly wrong with that, the different branchesofHelpAgecollaboratetohelpaddress
needs on a large scale. The websites are well laid out,andlinktothoseofotherregions. While
they hold a good reputation, it does not seem to be verywellknownintheUSA.Itcouldsimply
be that our country is too excited over other issues to consider ageism. I personally believe
some of this is justified (there is a lot going on) but otherwise, publicitywithinthecountrycould
useimprovement.

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MySMOsprincipalgoals/objectives
and
targetpopulationandinstitutionstochange(5)
If I were to create a SMO, I woulddefinitelystartonalocalscale.Ibelievethatbitingoff
more than you can chew is an easy problem to encounter, especially when creating a
movement in the name of a good cause. That being said, my organization would focus on
dispelling common misperceptions of older folk. People of all ages would be welcome to
participate,butIwouldtargetadolescentsandanybodyage50andupespecially.

Mymovementsorganizationandactivities(5)
A lot of the common misperceptions of older people portray them undesirable as
company. Peopleassumetheyareillmanneredanddull.Iwishtoprovetheoppositebyhosting
events that encourage interaction between all age groups. Public areas such as parks and
libraries would make fine settings, emphasizing that the event is open to all audiences. There
would be tables and seating arranged to encourage group discussion, and each station would
have a list of potential conversation topics. Tabletop games and cards could also be provided,
toshowthatfunhasnoagerestriction.

Waysstudentscangetinvolvedlocally(5)
I believe that students should participate directly, and engageinconversation witholder
folk. Students often worry about the choices they have yet to make, or even come across,and
the aging population are available essentially as living records. With age comes many diverse
experiences that are usually worth being heard. Students can also participate on a daily basis
by changing theirspeakinghabits.Forexampletrying torefrainfromcommentingonhowyoung
otherslook.Whileitmaynotseemlikeabigdeal,itsubtlyimpliesthatagingisunattractive.

HowmylocalmovementwillinteractwithSMOsatnational/globallevelsandbenefits(5)
While the focus of this movement would be on proving olderpeoplearecapablehuman
beings, the program will also be open to all groups. This means that it could collaborate with
other organizations to bring awareness to theelderlythatarehomeless,or thosewhofellunder
LGBT before anyrealawarenessforthatwasbroughtup.Anotherfunideawouldbetoforolder
folk with different backgrounds and cultures to share different highlights they experienced
growingupthatarenotpresenthereintheUS,orjusttodayingeneral.

Howproposedchangeswillaffectpeoplesdailylives(valuesandbehavior)(5)
I hope first thatbygettingolderfolkactivelyinvolvedinactivitieslikethese,theybecome
more confident in themselvesandrealizethereisnothingwrongwithaging.Second,Ihopethat
getting adolescents and youngadultsinvolvedwillhelpnurturetheupcominggenerationsothat
they may grow up with values more acceptingofallages.Theideaisthatifthenextgeneration
is taught to accept, they will in turn pass those teaching onto their own children, and so forth.
The biggest reason IwanttoemployactivitiesandsocialgatheringsisbecauseIwantpeopleof
all ages to witness firsthand that older people are just people that are older. I want it to be not
only painless, but enjoyable. Icouldinsteadorganize protestsandrallies.Thesewouldcertainly

bring attention to the cause butintheend,it leavesabad tasteineveryonesmouth:thosewho

are affected probably had their schedules delayed, and now have a bad impression of the
ageism movement as a whole, and those who participated see that their efforts bear no
immediate fruit. Instead, organizing social events would be a positive form of leading by
example. Those who participate would learn to associate aging with positive memories, and
wouldthereforebemorewillingtospreadwordbytheirownwill.

How
lawsandpolicies
willchangewhenmovementissuccessful(10)
There are already policies placed protecting older people intheworkenvironment,such
as those set up by AARP. However, they are not enforced as well as they should be because
the issue of age discriminationseemsbenign,andthereissimplyalackof respectfortheaging
population. If my movement shows success, there would be many forms of change throughout
the community. For one, speech would change sothatexpressionssuch asyou cantteachan
old dog new tricks would become less commonplace. Local business and institutions would
also be less likely to lay off older workersfornoapparentreason.Onthecontrary,theymaybe
valued more for their experience and people relationship skills built up over the years. Even
afteremployment,Iwouldliketoseethembeingsoughtoutmoretobeconsultedforadvice.

I would also like to see law enforcement doingabetterjobatprotectingolderfolk.Right

now, it feels like they are often left alone at times they should not, leaving them vulnerable to
various crimes. If the community as a whole comestoitssensesandthrowsasidethemythsof
older people, I think the officials and personnel directly in charge of security and law
enforcement especially would be less likely to turn a blind eye whenever a crime takes place
involvingasenior.

If the movement sees success on alargerscale,maybethecityitself wouldbewillingto

pass or better enforce existing legislation protecting older folk after retirement. A lot of the
current rules allow them to be taken advantage of by their caregivers. In other cases, they are
simply neglected. I think changes in rules and practices among nursing home and assisted
living communities to actively encourage similar social events not just for their residents, but
also for the workers. Thenursesandstaffin chargeoftakingcareofthemareoftennegligentin
their responsibilities, so getting them to interact with theresidentsmoreinapositivewaywould
benefit everyone the staff would work harder and enjoy their jobs more, and then older folk
wouldreceivethecareandattentiontheydeserved.

Reactions/resistancethatmightbeencounteredandhowyoullovercomethem(5)
There is of course resistance to every idea. There are those who probably had bad
experiences with older neighbors, coworkers, or relatives that left them with a stereotype
against older people. That is how it usually goes in terms of dissent and hatred towards a
particular group. However, I am more worried about apathy. As shown now, people do not
necessarily resent older folk. They may have false ideas about them, but most do not actively
denounce elderly folk. Rather, they feel no immediate need for change. Many people are
probably aware of the issue, but the subsequent response is probably so what?Thereareso

many other issues and global events that capture the attention of the news and media. Evenif
evidence of ageism is present everyday, everywhere, it does not present itself as a life
threatening problem. Instead, our newsfeeds are constantly flooded with news of immigrants,
terrorists, violence against people of color, and unfit presidential candidates. These are topics
that havethekindsofstoriespeoplecannotstopreadingabout.Astheysay:ifitbleeds,itreads
(although the last exampleisprobablypopularoutofsheerentertainmentvalue).Writingsabout
age discrimination are not violent, nor are they entertaining. They are usually accurate and
relevant,butpeoplesimplydonotcare.

But those are the worst reactions possible. There would likely be participants who
already grew up with household morals teaching them to respect their elders, so they would
jump in easily through self motivation. The most common reaction I would expect however is
initial disinterest mixed with curiosity. A lot of these people wouldbestudents andyoungadults
skeptical of the program, but attend because they hear positive things from friends, peers,and
local news. Maybe they would think it is weird and maybe even uncomfortable at first, butthey
would also learn to accept the movement. Afterall, it is their generation that is leading change
acrosstheglobeinsomanyfields.Ultimately,thequestionwouldbe:whynotage?

Useofmediatopromotethecause(5)
Media has a huge impact on our perceptions. Sometimes, there are changes and
additions to media that seem obvious, such as forcing a colored or female subject into the
picture. These may seem obvious at sight, but it has gotten to the point where images without
any diversity stand out more. I wish to do something similar witholderpeople.Inpublicimages
and advertisements, I would likepeopletomakemoreofanefforttoincludeolderfolk.Evenif it
is an ad for child development, there can be a grandma or grandpa playing with a child,
because they are often just as involved in the process as the parents or teachers. Working on
including older people in media the public sees helps make their inclusion in general feel
normal. It is like the example with Vogue, where they are consumers of the same products as
the rest of the population. The sight of them living as normal humans should no longer seem
strangeoroutofplace.

Methodsforobservingandassessingchange,bothshortandlongterm(5)
Surveys are always a good method of feedback. Quick surveys before and after social
events could show if there was any immediate improvement in overallattitude.Theycould also
ask if the participant had attended to any previous sessions and if so, how many. This would
then help illustrate the change over weeks, months, perhaps even years. The truly longterm
change would not be obvious. Rather, it would come as a sudden realization one day that
nobody seems to be saying a certain phrase anymore, or young adults are more likely to seek
outandvisittheirgrandparentscomparedtopreviousgenerations.

WhatIlearnedthroughthisproject(5)
Some of what I found matchedwhatIinitiallyknew.Iwassurprisedtofindthatthereare
not a lot of socialmovementorganizationsoutthereaddressingagediscrimination.Atthesame

time, I was also surprised to find HelpAge, a global network especially founded to help aging
populations worldwide. Some of the statistics, such as the one about 2011 Japan tsunami,
mademerealizethatthiswasactuallyneeded.

WorksCited

Edwards, Sherri. "Age Discrimination in The Workplace: Is It Ageism Or Your Attitude?"

Forbes
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AgeandYouthinAction|GrayPanthers
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Gray Panthers Twin Cities
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06Apr.2016.
HelpAge
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HelpAgeUSA
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Hotchkiss, Michael. "Researchers Chart New Path for Study of Ageism."
Princeton University
.
TrusteesofPrincetonUniversity,19Apr.2013.Web.06Apr.2016.
Laursen, Eric. "Grey Panthers."
Grey Panthers
. Global Action on Aging, July 2009. Web. 06
Apr.2016.
Lebovits, Susan Chaityn. "Gullette, an Antiageism Pioneer, Speaks out."
BrandeisNOW
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BrandeisUniversity,18July2011.Web.06Apr.2016.
Okwodu, Janelle. "We NeedtoTalkAboutFashionsAgeismProblem."
Vogue
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Mar.2016.Web.06Apr.2016.
Parramore, Lynn Stuart. "50 Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted from Their
JobsandDeniedNewOpportunities."
Alternet
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Parramore, Lynn Stuart. "50 Is the New 65: Older Americans Are Getting Booted from Their
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Alternet
.Alternet,22Dec.2013.Web.06Apr.2016.

Tapia, Amancay. "Ageism:The Last Acceptable Form of Discrimination."

The Huffington Post
.
TheHuffingtonPost.com,25Sept.2015.Web.06Apr.2016.
Tarnoff, John. "3 Tips On Combating Ageism From An AntiAgeism Activist."
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Post
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Vaughn, Emmer C.M. "Activist Gullette Decries Society's Ageism."
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