Ageism facts for kids
Ageism is when a person is treated badly only because of their age. Ageism can be discrimination by one person or by a part of society as a group. Discrimination is when a person is left out or abused by somebody who does not like something about them. For example, their facial features, their height or their skin.
There have been many issues at the British broadcasting company, BBC, dealing with people saying that they have issues with ageism. Ageism is often common in the entertainment industry where what a person looks like is felt by many to be important.
There are two targets for age discrimination: old people (also called senior citizens) and young people. Discrimination against old and young people can happen at places like job interviews. For example, a company might hire a worker who is about 30 years old instead of someone who is about 50 years old, or someone who is around 20 years old, regardless of skill level. Another common example of ageism is not allowing "minors", or young people, to vote, drink, drive, work, or marry.
Images for kids
-
Robert N. Butler coined the term "ageism" in 1969
-
Infographic showing the process of fililng an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint, with age discrimintation being possible grounds for EEOC intervention
-
Barbara Robb, founder of the Aid for the Elderly in Government Institutions pressure group
-
A 14-year-old newsboy in New York City, 1910
-
AARP booth at Boston Pride Festival, 2017
-
National Youth Rights Association members protesting the voting age in Berkeley, California (2004)
See also
In Spanish: Discriminación por edad para niños
