Yesterday, I shared on my personal blog that I’m retiring at the end of June. After working full time for over 40 years, I’m excited to get started on my next chapter. In the back of my mind, though, is a small seed of concern about being made to feel irrelevant thanks to the negative stereotypes of older adults that I see in the world around me.
Despite the fact that people are living longer and healthier lives, western culture clings to outdated stereotypes of retirement and aging. This reality was brought home to me over the weekend when I opened Canva to create images for my blog post. I searched “retirement”, and this is a sampling of the images that came up.
As I looked at the images, I shook my head. By far, negative images outnumbered positive ones.
Many portrayed white-haired people walking with canes. Others showed older adults sitting in rocking chairs or armchairs. Money was a recurring theme in many of the images…one even showed an older couple sitting on top of a pile of money. Who does that?
Almost exclusively, the more positive images related to travel—perpetuating the vision of retirement that involves endless travel to exotic destinations.
Where are the more realistic images of older adults starting businesses, volunteering in their communities, playing with their young grandchildren, running marathons, writing books, or pursuing passion projects?
Sadly, this negative stereotyping isn’t unique to Canva.
The Last Socially Acceptable Form of Discrimination
In their book What Retirees Want, Ken Dychtwald and Robert Morison call out ageism as the last socially acceptable form of discrimination. Today’s seniors have more wealth, disposable income, and free time than young people, yet businesses consistently market products and services to the “lucrative” youth market. The book cited a 2019 AARP study that found older adults are seven times more likely to be portrayed negatively in online media images than younger adults.
Last month, the U.K.’s Centre for Ageing Better responded to growing concerns about treatment of older adults by launching England’s first ever anti-ageism campaign. Age Without Limits invites people to call out and challenge ageism. There’s even a quiz to help people identify if they unconsciously hold ageist beliefs. Take the quiz. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Ageism – It’s Time to Fight Back
Start paying attention to the images of older adults you see every day. You’ll be hard pressed to find many images of older adults, let alone realistic and positive portrayals of a growing demographic that is reinventing retirement and aging.
It’s time to reexamine negative stereotypes of older adults and hold brands and media outlets accountable. We need to call out examples of ageism when we see them.
Like most people retiring today, I have big plans for my future. I’m definitely looking forward to a more relaxed pace of life and you might find me enjoying my morning tea on the deck. But like many others my age, I also have a long list of projects and interests that I can’t wait to dive into.
What images come to your mind when you hear the word retirement? Drop me a comment below with your ideas.
Learn more about me in my bio and on my personal blog at BoomerEcoCrusader.com. You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
In Europe they don’t stop increasing the legal age for retirement because of the population getting older and older and not counterbalanced by young people joining the job market. If we are fit to work in a company, we are also fit to carry out another chapter of our life in a different way. Yes, let’s stop the negative prejudices on the not- so-young adults!
Exactly, Cristiana! I think the corporate world needs to change their thinking, both from an employment perspective and how they market their products. Many companies still want to push older workers out the door, along with all their knowledge and wisdom. I cringe when I read some of the stuff our younger communications people write that’s targeted at people in my age demographic.
I just wrote a few days ago about seniors in Canada staying in their family homes much longer than usual. They’re not downsizing, opting to find creative ways to maintain their larger homes well into their 80s. Some, like my mom, are healthy enough to manage relatively well, but that’s not the case for everyone.
I agree the image people stick with adds unnecessary stigma to older people – not all seniors or retired folk follow some predetermined standard.
Here’s the article if you’re interested:
https://writerofwordsetc.ca/2024/02/17/real-estate-trend-seniors-are-choosing-to-stay-in-their-homes/
Wishing you a wonderful new life post retirement! It looks like writing will be a part of it.
Hello! It’s lovely to hear from another Canadian blogger. There aren’t that many of us, it seems.
The house we live in is 44 years old. Many of our neighbours are in their 70s and 80s and have owned their houses since they were built. We definitely plan to stay in our home as long as we can.
You’re right about the predetermined standard. My mum just turned 91, lives in her own apartment, and still drives. She has more energy than many people half her age!
My mom’s street in a suburb of the GTA is like this too. Lots of elderly, mostly widowed wives, living on the street!
I will check you out. Nice to meet another Canadian blogger. 🇨🇦💌
Eh, Im not sure the images of seniors and money is negative, I would say more unrealistic, especially for most. Ive always thought ageism is more about our internal fears and hate for growing old. Most people spend their youth bartering against the future, spending money unwisely, managing relationships poorly, ignoring our health…these things will not lead to world travel or sitting on piles of money! We’ll need to start valuing aging more, in order to prevent the discrimination against the old. Great topic and article!
Thanks for reading and commenting. You’re right that many didn’t take the right steps in their youth. As a cancer survivor, I do understand the “live now” mentality but there needs to be a balance.
Yes, we definitely need to value the wisdom of older people. My mum has lived through wartime. She left home at 16, moved to another country at 18, and emmigrated to Canada with her family in her 40s. Many would dismiss her as a irrelevant old lady (she’s 91), but she has seen and done so much. We risk repeating the world’s mistakes if we don’t pay attention to those who came before us.
Your mother is a treasure and treating her as such will help change the narrative! I cared for my grandmother, in my home, the last 10 years of her life. She passed in 2022 at 98. We had a blast every chance we got!
Aww that’s lovely that you got to spend that time with your grandmother. My mum and I travelled to England last year to see my sister, and we’re hoping to get to Ireland this summer to see her brother and sisters. She’s an amazing traveller for her age. I’m looking forward to seeing more of her when I’m not working any more.
My “auntie” Jan not-so recently decided to challenge some of the negative thoughts on getting older, one which I think is directed at women more, by posting on her social media a photo of herself sunbathing without her top off, and got a mixed set of comments.
Oh I can only imagine the comments and kudos to your auntie for being so brave! The anti-aging business is huge. After I lost my hair to chemotherapy, I embraced my grey hair. I know it makes me look older but, who am I kidding! None of us are getting any younger. Thanks for reading and commenting.
My reaction was more “oh my god, it’s auntie Jan” 😂
I can imagine! 😂
It’s was a bit of a flip situation for me because when I was in my final year of Sixth-form, I joined a local theatre group which, unbeknownst to me, one of my tutors would regularly go and see the productions. Opening night was a Thursday evening, and I had a lecture with that tutor the following morning. Had it been a different production, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but in this production, I appeared completely naked on stage. The following morning, I was pulled aside and had a very awkward conversation.
Isn’t that a wonderful stage in your life you can do whatever we want without the responsibilities? It is time for our own growth. My Mom at 70 started her first group music lesson today. Boy was she excited! Age is not a factor for anything!
Go, go, Michelle! I know so many folks who’ve switched careers…preferring that phrase (career switching) to the dreaded ‘retirement’ word because of all of the negative connotations you’ve mentioned. Yes, yes! 😉
Yes. Second life or second career is where it’s at Vicki! Many universities are starting to figure out that people looking to make mid-life career transitions are an untapped market. I’ve heard of several universities in the US and one here in Canada that are offering these programs to help older adults figure out their next steps.
Love it! 🥰
I’m still a few years away from retiring. I work in Higher Education, and there are a number of staff and faculty working well past retirement age. Different outlook than in the corporate world.
Yes. Unlike the corporate world, academic institutions value the tenure and knowledge.
Exactly!
I totally agree!
Bravo! 👏😘
Thank you!
This article is 💯 spot on! The thing that really surprises me though is the negative stereotypes that many people put on themselves. I know too many people of my age (50) who are already talking about what they can’t do anymore and the expectations they have of becoming more limited as they grow older in the not too distant future.
If manifesting is a real thing, some people may be in real trouble!
You make an excellent point, Todd. There is research that shows that a positive attitude toward aging can help you live longer and healthier. I highly recommend Becca Levy’s book “Breaking the Age Code”. I found it fascinating.
Thanks for the tip- I’ll check it out 👍😎
I don’t ever really want to “retire”. I may not ever earn a typical paycheck again, but there’s plenty of ways to work and serve.
I agree 100% David. It’s why I always use air quotes when I say I’m “retiring”. I have so many things still to do!
Thanks so much for this post! I am nearing the time when I am thinking about retiring. Truth be told, I would retire if I could tomorrow. I need to sell a helluva lot more books before that happens. But, I do feel like as whole, older folks who are wiser, more patient, kind and understand the value of day well spent, are ignored by the inane, distraction driven American social landscape.
It’s a shame that organizations discount the value of the wisdom of older workers. I saw a study today that said close to 80% of Canadian women have experienced ageism at work. That’s just wrong.