A year of intense concern about the fitness of older national leaders to serve, culminating in President Joe Biden pulling out of the White House race, has surfaced what experts on aging see as a snowballing and largely unchallenged expression of the ageism that permeates American culture. Pressure for Mr. Biden to withdraw probably had more to do with changing perceptions of his capabilities than with how many times he’s circled the sun.
But from headlines to memes, the phrase “too old” – which the president himself used at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night – became ageist shorthand. Gerontological advocates and scientists say public perceptions of older people are far too often anchored in unfair assumptions about the meaning of a numerical age. It’s a stereotype as unjust and incorrect as generalizations about race or gender – but somehow still acceptable.
And it equates chronological age with poor health, which in turn fans fears of growing older. Yet even some of those who see rampant ageism also see opportunity in the current moment. “I personally think unless you see [ageism], you’re not going to do anything about it,” says Tracey Gendron, a gerontologist and author of “Ageism Unmasked.
” She adds, “I am hopeful that maybe this will be a catalyst.” A year of intense concern about the fitness of older national leaders to serve, culminating in President Joe Biden pulling out of the White House race, has surfaced what experts on.