Ageism is a type of discrimination that, unfortunately, too many people don't realize is an issue. We live in a culture that glorifies youth. Turn on the TV, and you'll see ad after ad of anti-aging products and items that promise to turn back the hands of time. It's a normal part of our culture that sadly perpetuates the negative stereotypes associated with aging.

The truth is that age discrimination is harmful on many levels. It can affect one's mental health, self-esteem, and attitude. The bias can be so bad that older individuals turn it towards themselves, resulting in feelings of being a burden.

The Mental Impact of Ageism

To learn how to reduce ageism, you must understand how harmful it can be. This discrimination is so normalized that it's not hard to find someone cracking jokes about someone's age. You even see it in the workplace! But are those jabs really a big deal?

One of the most dangerous aspects of ageism is its effect on one's mental psyche. It often creates and exacerbates feelings of depression. It's the gnawing feeling that being older makes you a burden to family and society. Internalizing stereotypes may result in a drop in cognitive abilities, making some of the worst fears about aging a reality.

Social Impact

Ageism can also lead to social issues that only make mental problems worse. Those old stereotypes about what older people can or cannot do may make younger people less inclined to stick around. That can lead to social isolation and loneliness.

Internalized ageism can also make older people resist traveling alone or going out to get groceries due to fear of being the victim of a crime. There is also the impact of stereotypes on sexual health and physical intimacy.

Ultimately, those seemingly innocent jokes and outdated beliefs about getting older cause harm in more ways than most people realize. Understanding that will equip you with the knowledge to learn how to reduce ageism. There's nothing to fear about getting older; the faster society learns that, the better.

Author Resource:-

Jeson Clarke writes about social networking platforms and LGBT community. You can find his thoughts at LGBT community blog.