La Vida Local
Irregular Notes on West End Life
Good Luck to Us – Part 1
In September, the Maine Council on Aging held their annual Wisdom Summit where they set the goal of ending ageism in Maine by 2032. In other words, in 10 years. While I’m glad this isn’t another declaration of war à la the wars on poverty, cancer, and drugs that never seem to end, I can’t say I’m rosily confident we’ll succeed. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained—let’s give it a go!
What is ageism?
The World Health Organization defines it as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or ourselves based on age.”
When we first encounter someone, age is one of the first physical qualities we observe. Is the person an adult, a child, a teenager? We notice and immediately start making assumptions about what their behavior and attitudes will be depending on our own preconceived notions. While this automatic reaction has served humans well over time in sizing up the likelihood of a pleasant or dangerous encounter, the assumptions about age in other situations can be extremely inaccurate, unfair, and ultimately harmful to everyone.
How to help achieve the goal of having an Age Positive Maine by 2032?
A first step could just be noticing ageism. Since this is a newspaper article, I’ll start with a couple of examples from local print media.
In a recent article in the Portland Phoenix entitled “Residents question use of pesticides” we learned that this alleged infraction of the City’s pesticide ordinance occurred at a “senior-living apartment complex” which is “a Portland-based facility for residents 55 and up” and that the resident interviewed by the reporter was quoted as saying, “There’s no young people living here. So they think they’ll just push us around and they think we won’t do anything.”
What do any of those references to age in the article have to do with the fact that a banned pesticide was applied? What’s being stated or implied here? Was it necessary to use those words?
Ageism is something that affects everyone, young and old alike, and news reporting practices can reinforce negative stereotypes.
In 1969, I was stopped for going 42 mph in a 30-mph zone near Eddie’s Variety on Auburn Street. Either the Press Herald or the Evening Express (maybe both!) duly printed my name, age, town, and nature of my moving violation. Being nineteen at the time, this notoriety probably added to the negative image of teenage drivers held by many. What was the real news item? That a speeder was caught? That the PPD was alert and other drivers best pay attention? That I was nineteen?
Listing someone’s age in an article may not seem like a big deal, but if that fact is not a necessary part of the story, why do it?
Take a look at some newspaper articles and see what you think. You’ll have taken the first step toward…
FMI: https://mainecouncilonaging.org/agepositiveme
Rosanne Graef lives in the West End and is a regular volunteer contributor. Email her at lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.
Age Positive Maine: Good Luck to Us
La Vida Local
Irregular Notes on West End Life
Good Luck to Us – Part 1
By Rosanne Graef
In September, the Maine Council on Aging held their annual Wisdom Summit where they set the goal of ending ageism in Maine by 2032. In other words, in 10 years. While I’m glad this isn’t another declaration of war à la the wars on poverty, cancer, and drugs that never seem to end, I can’t say I’m rosily confident we’ll succeed. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained—let’s give it a go!
What is ageism?
The World Health Organization defines it as “the stereotypes (how we think), prejudice (how we feel), and discrimination (how we act) towards others or ourselves based on age.”
When we first encounter someone, age is one of the first physical qualities we observe. Is the person an adult, a child, a teenager? We notice and immediately start making assumptions about what their behavior and attitudes will be depending on our own preconceived notions. While this automatic reaction has served humans well over time in sizing up the likelihood of a pleasant or dangerous encounter, the assumptions about age in other situations can be extremely inaccurate, unfair, and ultimately harmful to everyone.
How to help achieve the goal of having an Age Positive Maine by 2032?
A first step could just be noticing ageism. Since this is a newspaper article, I’ll start with a couple of examples from local print media.
In a recent article in the Portland Phoenix entitled “Residents question use of pesticides” we learned that this alleged infraction of the City’s pesticide ordinance occurred at a “senior-living apartment complex” which is “a Portland-based facility for residents 55 and up” and that the resident interviewed by the reporter was quoted as saying, “There’s no young people living here. So they think they’ll just push us around and they think we won’t do anything.”
What do any of those references to age in the article have to do with the fact that a banned pesticide was applied? What’s being stated or implied here? Was it necessary to use those words?
Ageism is something that affects everyone, young and old alike, and news reporting practices can reinforce negative stereotypes.
In 1969, I was stopped for going 42 mph in a 30-mph zone near Eddie’s Variety on Auburn Street. Either the Press Herald or the Evening Express (maybe both!) duly printed my name, age, town, and nature of my moving violation. Being nineteen at the time, this notoriety probably added to the negative image of teenage drivers held by many. What was the real news item? That a speeder was caught? That the PPD was alert and other drivers best pay attention? That I was nineteen?
Listing someone’s age in an article may not seem like a big deal, but if that fact is not a necessary part of the story, why do it?
Take a look at some newspaper articles and see what you think. You’ll have taken the first step toward…
FMI: https://mainecouncilonaging.org/agepositiveme
Rosanne Graef lives in the West End and is a regular volunteer contributor. Email her at lavidalocalwen@gmail.com.