Ashton Applewhite: Ageism is not that simple

«I want a world where everyone is treated with respect, where age is neutral and old age is nothing to be ashamed of». This appeal comes from Ashton Applewhite, one of the most vocal voices in the fight against ageism and the guest of this edition of the show «It's Not That Simple».

In this interview, the American writer and activist explains that age prejudice cuts across all age groups, but that older people are the biggest targets of this type of discrimination. «As we get older, our bodies don’t work as well, although our minds don’t necessarily deteriorate along with them», she explains. «When people say 'I don't feel old', what they really mean is: I don't feel ugly, I don't feel useless and I don't feel incompetent».

As growing old is an inevitable process, the author of the book and anti-ageism manifesto This Chair Rocks says that the best approach is to stop denying it and have a positive attitude towards old age. «There is a growing body of evidence showing that people with positive and accurate feelings about ageing live longer: seven and a half years longer».

Ashton Applewhite argues that we need to increase awareness about the later stages of life among the population: «The more we know about age and ageing, the less afraid we will be».

For the activist, the workplace is where discrimination most commonly occurs  and where prejudice is most visible, both amongst younger and older age groups.

At the same time, she has no doubt that ageism is also a gender issue, as women are judged more harshly in the workplace. When they enter the job market, they are «too sexy or attractive» to be taken seriously. Then later on in life, they are considered «too fertile and become a risk for employers». She goes on to observe that "later, they stop being sexy or fertile and that's it». «Women are never the right age, are they?»

In her never-ending fight for greater awareness and the need for a real cultural change in attitudes towards age, Applewhite offers a simple solution: «Make friends withsome one who is older or younger than you. That in itself is an act of anti-ageism.»