S10: Ageism in intersection: Ensuring the human rights of older persons in the face of oppressions

Abstract

Summary: Ageism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes towards people because of their age. Ageism can be directed towards individuals of all ages and be either positive or negative. Ageism can operate at the institutional level directed via legal and social policies, at the meso level as evident in interpersonal relations and at the micro level directed by people towards their own age and aging. Ageism can be experienced either consciously with full awareness or unconsciously, without the agent of ageism and/or the target of ageism being fully aware of it. The following presentations will address ageism in relation to older persons because of its well- known detrimental effects. An important aspect of ageism concerns the fact that it does not occur in silo. Instead, it is often age in intersection with other forms of discrimination, which results in the marginalization of older persons. Perel-Levin will analyse how ageism and age-based discrimination intersect with other forms of biases, discrimination, and inequalities based, such as disability, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status. The presentation by Daichman will focus on age in intersection with gender by stressing the vulnerable place of older women and relate this to elder abuse. Ayalon will highlight self- directed ageism and intergenerational conflict as they manifest in older persons’ political activism. Finally, Rabheru will discuss findings concerning ageism in Canada based on data obtained from a diverse array of stakeholders, including researchers, healthcare professionals, social service providers, older persons, and advocates. Kalache will moderate the session and conclude with applied tools to ensure the human rights of older persons in the face of institutional, interactional, and intrapersonalageism.