Ageism Isn’t New

In 1969, while working for the District of Columbia Office on Aging, Robert Butler coined the term “ageism” – an omnibus term that is often used to describe age-based bias against older populations. Ageism, without express terminology, has been around since the dawn of recorded history (and likely before). Individuals experience the aging process and bias in radically different ways that are largely influenced by income, race, gender, gender expression, and sexuality. 

Butler, and those that followed – people like me – understood that ageism is inherently bad. We had anecdotal data going back decades that suggested that there were negative impacts on the health and economic prospects of individuals who were victims of this widely held, and largely permissive bias. However, it wasn’t until 2018, that Yale University professor, Rebecca (Becca) Levy put a price tag on ageism.

Ageism Isn’t Cheap

Levy and her team found that ageism costs the United States roughly $63 billion dollars a year in health-related expenditures for the top seven health conditions. She illustrated that this bias presents a clear and present danger to the social and economic health of the nation. She showed the world that ageism is costly and kills. 

Since her groundbreaking report, national advocacy organizations that have long argued for generationally inclusive practices, as well as policies that tackle ageism head-on, have gained a valuable talking point. More importantly, her work has led to major organizations like the World Economic Forum and World Health Organisation to advocate for a world that is more age-friendly and free of age-bias.