Ageism in the Workplace

An interesting video was just released on Facebook and Twitter by Sky News about ageism. This has been a new debate that has emerged due to Jason Manford's 76 year old dad looking for a job.

See link for more information: Manchester Evening News: Jason Manford launches heartfelt appeal to find his dad a job

The campaign highlights some poignant issues which relate to our AQA specification. Within the Family and Households unit we begin to discuss the ageing population and how it affects the wider population. As we know and discuss that old age like childhood is a social construction and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Arguably, as soon as you are labelled as ‘old’ you will enact the features and assumptions of old age.  

This is a great video in showing the characteristics of ‘older people’ within the work place with a comparison between them and ‘younger people’. The type of jobs ‘older people’ generally get offered are lower in position which means all prior experience is ignored and not fully embraced within the work place.

I would use this video as a great tool to highlight how ageism happens within our society. Having a fruitful discussion about how we could use this information – what evidence can we use when discussing old age within the Demographics section of the Families and Households unit. 

For more articles related to this:

• Sky News: Older workers still facing jobs discrimination report (2016)
• The Guardian: Ageing retirement workforce discrimination (2015