New Hampshire Magazine
February 18, 2021
I love being called ‘Little Lady’ or ‘Pops’ by a total stranger,” said no senior ever.
Yet language that diminishes, degrades or devalues older people is common, and it’s just one of the many ways they experience stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination and far worse based solely upon their birth date.
That’s known as ageism, and it is entrenched in our culture.
The term was devised in the late 1960s by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author and medical doctor Robert Butler, who envisioned ageism would take its rightful place among the battles being waged against racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and the other “isms” during that era marked by social change and cultural shifts.
Jim Kenyon: Upper Valley seniors just waiting for their shot
Jim Kenyon. Copyright (c) Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
Modified: 1/9/2021 10:50:16 PM
Bob Gasser, an 83-year-old retired attorney, wants to start traveling again. He’d also like to get back to seeing friends during workouts at the gym. Tango lessons are on his bucket list.
But like nearly everyone else no matter their age Gasser won’t feel safe about picking up where life pretty much stopped 10 months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic until he gets the COVID-19 vaccine.