to be fed up with casual ageism?

That tickled me pink!

There is still ageism in employment, I have been trying for 18 months to get a job in my 70s. I have excellent qualifications and many years experience in the sort of roles I am applying for. I have no problem getting interviews, but there is such a look of surprise on the faces of the interviewers when I walk in or pop up on screen. Twenty years ago I would have been confident of sailing through, the interviews go very well, but at the following phone call I am always told that it was so close, but someone just pipped me too it. I took this on the chin the first few times, but it has happened too often now. If you want to volunteer, you are made welcome, but the idea of paying someone my age seems anathema! 🤔 🙂

I'm not proud! I wish someone would help me at the checkout.

Baggs because it is casual ageism. You could make the same comment to someone subject to racism or sexism.

I challenge it, not because, I am bothered by what people think of me. We have both been on GN long enough to know that isn't true, but casual agism, sexism, racism comes form ingrainedsteroetypes within the other person's mind. It is their own institutional bias and could affect how they treat people in corcumstances where it matters.

For me it's the assumption that groups of people are not individuals in their own right.
The Disabled
The Elderly
The Young.
Particularly annoying when applied to people who have a disability.

springishere

I'm not proud! I wish someone would help me at the checkout.

Me too, we have all retired from our careers, most don’t need to work but the extra cash is always welcome, the managers ar3 good and the discounts on shopping welcome

My Mum was always fiercely independent, and cutting in her manner.

At her diabetic review one year she was told she qualified for free chiropody treatment and did she want to arrange an appointment?
"I told her in no uncertain terms, I'm perfectly capable of cutting my own toenails," was her sharp reply.

I was grumbling to my son one day about something she'd said to me and he just laughed and said, "Face it, mother, Grandma's always been rude!"

I wouldn't want my grandchildren thinking that about me ☹️

Ha ha. One of those is (surely) a man M0nica

Well said, M0nica.

I still one can be oversensitive though. Most stereotypes have arisen because in general they are or have been useful. Their usefulness sometimes wears out, it is true, and I guess that's where problems start.

I also still think that someone doing one of the most boring and unrewarding jobs in the world ("hovering assistant") needs to be given some slack. A lot of slack in fact.

Or just bloody turn round and ask them to go away because you can manage fine, thank you!

And "Do you realise how ageist that is?"

All we strong, capable old people can fight (metaphorically) for ourselves, can't we? And for the next generation of old people.

two weeks ago I was at the AGM of a group I belong to. The key speaker was someone from an environmental group talking about walking the local National Path.

At one point she casually said something to the effect that 'you need to think twice about asking your gran to walk up it.'

After the meeting during the tea and cakes. I walked up to her and told her politely that using phrases like that was ageist, and mainly untrue as 'grans' run from 40 to 100+ and have levels of fitness, at all those ages that make the walk impossible, or a merely a casual stroll. I think I might have used the words 'unconscious bias'

The thing is, it was a quiet private talk, no embarrassment and no showing up, but this speaker will think more carefully about her style of speaking in the future. As they say: Job done..

Was that really necessary?

Baggs

I also still think that someone doing one of the most boring and unrewarding jobs in the world ("hovering assistant") needs to be given some slack. A lot of slack in fact.

Knowing their job are in peril.

Casual ageism at the till, is a no win situation. If there’s no one there to help when we get stuck, we are not happy about it. If unwanted help is offered, we’re not happy about it.
All the same it’s like the unconscious bias on another thread and it implies that old people, or young mums with children, or people with a disability can’t manage without help.
Saying I’m OK thanks, politely means they won’t be worried about offering help to the next person, who might need it.

GSM of course it was, apart from anything else most of the audience were over retirement age.

...you need to think twice about asking your gran to walk up it.'

If the speaker was addressing an audience most of whom were over retirement age, I'd say they would probably think twice about taking their gran anywhere 🤣🤣

Merylstreep, ASDA are magic. They come and sort out your problem at the self service before you even know you have one. Just a bit worried about their Sweet Sprouts though, creepy and a creepy taste.

V3ra

^...you need to think twice about asking your gran to walk up it.'^

If the speaker was addressing an audience most of whom were over retirement age, I'd say they would probably think twice about taking their gran anywhere 🤣🤣

😂😂😂

My Grans would be about 148 now.

If I am offered a helping hand at the till or elsewhere, I accept with thanks and a smile, reflecting that I hope I was as polite when I was younger. I often need help getting items down from a high self when there is no store assistant around, but nearly always another, taller customer will reach it for me. I hope my thanks and smile will make sure that they will always offer help when needed.

There are so many isms. I wish some people would think before they speak. We know a young man who has lost all his hair and is very sensitive about it. Recently he went into a pub on a wild and windy day. Someone said to him 'At least it didn't mess your hair up. Ha ha ha.' How b****y insensitive and cruel.

Of course it's nice to be helped. But getting things from shelves isn't the same as being shown how to use technology because it's assumed you're too old to know.

Yep - my Mum would be celerating her 119th birthday today, dread to think how old my Gran would have been!!!

I am amazined read ing this thread how hard it appears to be fr so many people to be able to accept offers of assistance graciously.

When people offer me any help, or move aside off a narrow pavement when I am out with my mobility scooter, or come over to me when I stand in front of a machine, I always ensure that I really let them know my gratitude. Whether I actually needed their help or not.

Do not see it as casual ageism, but as people genuinely wishing to help others.

I have a very embarrassed memory of insisting on going to the supermarket with my parents for the couple of weeks after the currency changed in the early 70's. Tv ads. kept telling us to assist older people with this change - I found my parents very unappreciative of my help - looking back I now realise they would only have been in the late 60's at the time - my Dad still working and both totally mentally alert!!!

Wouldn’t worry me in the least, I’d just say that’s ok love I can do it!