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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Silent Ageism

Below is a scenario that illustrates the extent to which older persons can be discriminated.  I would very much like to read what you think about coping with this type of situation.

         Ben, 76-years-old, is very frustrated, he has gotten used to being ignored. But a neighborhood meeting had been called to discuss the recent break-ins.  He was tired of being treated as if he didn’t exist.  It wasn’t that he experienced hostility he was ignored with sheer indifference.  When he was talked to he was patronized since he had retired fifteen years ago from the community police force, he has gradually spent more and more time alone, especially after the loss of his wife three years ago.
         But this is too much. He is tired of being treated like a piece of furniture.  He is also tired of being patronized when people did talk to him.  He is becoming increasingly frustrated. What can he do??
          People from all over the world have visited my blogspot.  And quite a few people appear to be interested in both ageism and wisdom. It would be very interesting to me if we could engage in a discussion about what we think Ben could do
         Using your own experience it would be interesting to have an international discussion about what he could do to improve the situation.

2 comments:

  1. He should carry in and use a canned yacht horn at the next neighborhood meeting, when he wants to speak. That should get everybody to pay attention.

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  2. I think that's a very good idea. It will bring special attention to their ignorance. This assumes that they are ignoring him more or less unconsciously. I think that much of ageist prejudice, if not prejudice in general, occurs because people doing it make assumptions without thinking about it. There may be some who have deep fears about aging may just see it as another unacceptable behaviour.

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