Ageism

Ageism is a term coined by Dr. Robert Butler in 1968 to describe the systematic stereotyping and discrimination against people because of their age. Butler drew a direct parallel to racism and sexism: the same instinct to treat a person as a category rather than an individual, just applied to age instead of skin color or gender.

In workplaces, ageism tends to target older employees. It rarely announces itself. More often it shows up in assumptions: that older workers are less adaptable, less worth investing in, or less suited to demanding work than their younger colleagues.

In practice, that looks like learning and development opportunities that quietly go to younger staff. Challenging projects that don’t get offered to older employees. Raises and promotions that pass them over without explanation. Comments about age that get laughed off as jokes. And a gradual sense of being left out of conversations, decisions, and teams in ways that are hard to name but easy to feel.