We are so immersed in it.

Each Wednesday’s local paper always includes a Food section. The feature article this past Wednesday was a story about Mr. ____ who makes dozens of fruitcakes each year, using a recipe that is at least three generations old.  The columnist wrote, “He doesn’t do all the work himself anymore.  Mr. ______ is 85, so most of the work is done by his grandson”

Hmmmm.    So Mr. ____ is described as being limited “because he’s 85”.  That is an expression of ageism:  categorizing a person based on chronological age.

Why might Mr. ____ not do all the work anymore? 

n  He may be mentoring an excited young adult who wants to carry on this family tradition.

n  He may be recuperating from surgery

n  He may have a bad back and can’t lift the heavy utensils holding ingredients for dozens of cakes.

Whatever the reason, the choice, if it is seen as due to this man’s chronological age, it is ageist.

As I read this sentence, I wondered how many readers would even question it. I was reminded of the story of the two young fish swimming along one morning when an older fish passes in the opposite direction and asks, “How’s the water, boys?”  The two young fish look at each other and ask, “What’s water?”  Immersed in it, they could not identify it.  That’s like ageism in our society.  It is so pervasive, we are so immersed in it that we do not recognize it many times.

Ashton Applewhite calls ageism the last acceptable prejudice in our society.  It is also the most perverse because every living person is subject to it.  Geography, gender, and socioeconomic factors have an impact on how much ageism affects given individuals.

Let’s begin to see the metaphorical water we are immersed in and resist it as a matter of justice work  --- and a healthy self interest.