This Chair Rocks, by Ashton Applewhite

 

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Back in the 1960s the baby boomers were the generation that protested the oppression of young people; remember, “Don’t trust anyone over thirty?” (view spoiler) Now that we’re the old ones we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re the generation interested in reading a book that protests against ageism. 

So what is ageism? It’s institutional and personal discrimination against people solely on the basis of their age whether its young, middle age, or old. It’s a sociological phenomenon that permeates our cultural environment such that even many of us in the older end of the age spectrum can also have ageist biases. So this book is an educational and inspirational pep talk to older people in addition to being a manifesto to the rest of the world. 

The first part of the book provides a historical overview of ageism and its societal impact. Readers are challenged to examine their beliefs and attitudes toward aging and encourages adoption of more positive and inclusive perspectives. The second section examines how ageism affects everyday life including the workplace, media, and personal relationships. The final section offers a vision for a world free of ageism. 

Ageism has many similarities with other forms of discrimination, such as racism, sexism and ableism. Many of their interests overlap. They are all similar in that those who strive to end such discrimination are simply asking that all humans be honored and respected as potentially useful contributors to society. 

This book has a worthwhile message for all of us to be alert for biases that may be lingering within our thoughts. But I don't have strong feelings about ageism because, from my perspective as a contented older person in retirement, it seems that victims of other isms have suffered more than victims of ageism.

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