Youth Club Sessions: Ageism and stereotypes
Friday, May 13, 2011
Ageism remains an issue for young and old alike. Vanessa Rogers shares her ideas on how to raise awareness with youth groups.
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Age Diversity Warm-Up
Aim This is a warm-up activity to raise awareness about ageism and age discrimination.
You will need
- Flipchart paper and marker pens
How to do it
Start the session by asking the young people to think of examples where they believe that they have been discriminated against because of their age. Encourage a short discussion and then suggest that it is not only young people who can be discriminated against because of their age - it can happen to older people too. Suggest that there are even some common expressions that people use that could reinforce stereotypes about age. Divide the young people into two groups and hand paper and markers to each.
Group One has three minutes to write down as many common sayings, expressions or words they have heard to describe young people.
Group Two has three minutes to write down as many common sayings, expressions or words they have heard to describe older people.
After three minutes, invite feedback from each group. Start a discussion that considers: how these stereotypes make people feel; where they come from; how true they are; how discrimination might occur as a result of these stereotypes and how ageism can be challenged.
Conclude that ageism — defined as stereotyping and discrimination against people on the basis of age — is not confined to young people. Point out that there are now laws in place to protect people in the workplace so that jobs are given on merit, not age.