Amari's Column: Beyond the Numbers: Rethinking age and value
Age.
The amount of time that someone has been alive, has set a precedent on how we not only treat others but also how we treat ourselves. Likely to not fault of our own, because it’s simply the hierarchy of the society that we are all born into.
Yet it’s exactly that which makes it so hard to challenge or criticize, because why question authority when we’re brought up never to do exactly that? Especially when you’re the one questioning the system from within the receiving end of it.
I think the majority of adults, young adults, and adolescents can recollect a time when they were younger and they tried to “talk back” to their parents, when they expressed and vocalized their opinions on the house’s rules, how things operate; and faced an immediate consequence as a result. We may all share these experiences but do we truly understand the weight of them? What type of effect does it have on a person when they can’t feel free enough to express their mind? When it’s automatically deemed as “disrespect”? And is there any way to change this system?
These questions are bold and they are probably uncomfortable domains to enter when we deal with our past and upbringing, but I believe that it’s necessary to not only question societal conditioning–but also to improve it by analyzing its flaws.
Because there is a flaw here! Which leads me to this article’s main topic: Ageism
Because when we enforce this rigid structure of “Adult = superior, Child = inferior” or “Young = Superior, Old = Inferior” (especially to an extreme and passionate degree) it’s easy to lose sight of our humanity, empathy, and morality. Not only in how we treat children and minors but also how minors and children treat adults and on a deeper level themselves.
What is Ageism?
But what is Ageism? Ageism is defined by Oxford Languages as “prejudice or discrimination on the grounds of a person's age” which may sound simple enough but the implications and dimensions of what this looks like in actuality are profound. Ageism can take many forms, while many may interpret it as discrimination against seniors and elders, it can affect the youth too! Meaning this is a problem that affects everyone, and whether you’re aware of it or not you’ve probably either unknowingly or accidentally performed Ageism or capitalized off of it in some way or to a certain extent.
As previously mentioned Ageism can take many forms, but some ways it can appear are
Stereotyping individuals based on their age (being weak, disrespectful, ignorant, inexperienced, “out of touch”, etc)
Excluding individuals based on their age (not allowing them in conversations, decision making, exclusion from leadership roles, etc)
Patronizing individuals, assuming they are incapable of making decisions or talking down to them as if they are inferior in some way
Portraying and perpetuating stereotypes of individuals based on their age, either verbally by interaction or even in media representation (think to how certain age groups are frequently shown in media–do you notice a pattern or stereotype?)
I’d also like to point out that while older generations are often the ones in positions of authority, they too face discrimination once their “value” is seen to decline past a certain age. Which is really one of the core concepts about Ageism; it doesn't play favorites—it just punishes deviation from the socially accepted ‘prime’ age bracket.
What are the types of Ageism? What are the effects?
In the beginning of this article, I asked, “What type of effect does it have on a person when they can’t feel free enough to express their mind?” Since then, we’ve explored how society’s fixation on age creates silent rules around who is “allowed” to speak, act, or even dream freely. But how exactly does this conditioning take shape? Ageism doesn’t just exist in one form—it shows up through systems, conversations, and even within our own thoughts.
It wears many masks, but the damage is always real. With the three main types of Ageism typically manifesting as follows:
institutional ageism, which occurs when an institution perpetuates ageism through its actions and policies
interpersonal ageism, which occurs in social interactions
internalized ageism, which is when a person internalizes ageist beliefs and applies them to themselves
All of these are very clearly bad, but it’s that last one that can really cause damage, if these internalized beliefs persist. It can lead to drastic consequences on a person’s psyche and mental wellbeing, such as:
Reduced self-esteem: Individuals may start to believe they are less capable or valuable because of their age.
Increased risk of anxiety and depression: Constantly feeling undervalued or discriminated against can lead to mental health issues and promote a mental state for them to develop in the first place.
Social withdrawal: People might isolate themselves to avoid ageist interactions, leading to loneliness and further mental health decline while also impacting someone’s access to help and human interation.
Impaired decision-making: Internalized ageism can affect one's confidence in making decisions, leading to a lack of autonomy and independence. This can affect how they carry themselves, but also how they build relationships, careers, and even affect lifelong success.
What is there to do? How to prevent Ageism
As we’ve explored in this article, ageism can be deeply damaging—its roots winding through institutions, relationships, and even into our own self-perception. But damage doesn’t have to be destiny. There’s power in awareness, and hope in change.
It begins with reflection. Ask yourself:
Am I treating someone differently because of their age? If so, why am I doing this? Is it for a valid reason (like a disability, medical problem, or previous behaviors) or is it because of their age alone?
Do I harbor disdain towards a certain age group? Why do I feel this way? Does this cause me to treat certain people differently?
How do I perceive myself because of my age? Have I swallowed quiet lies about my worth, my voice, or my potential?
These questions may seem simple—but they’re doorways to deeper self-discovery. They’re how we begin to uproot the quiet bias, how we learn to see with greater clarity. True anti-ageism work is empathy in action: considering the perspectives of those younger and older, being inclusive without condescension, and challenging norms that seek to put potential in a cage.
The Stars Don’t Care How Old You Are.
I’ve been told I’m “too young” to understand, to lead, to speak even as my thoughts mirrored those of philosophers, leaders, and visionaries who shaped the world (or so adults tell me). I’ve felt the sting—not of ignorance, but of dismissal. Not because I was wrong, but because I dared to speak before a certain number had passed.
Ageism doesn’t just silence—it twists dynamis into self-doubt. It seeds limitation in places where there should be growth. But I’ve learned something far more powerful:
Wisdom isn’t a function of time—it’s a function of perception. Of depth. Of daring.
And the stars? They don’t care how old you are. They don’t ask your age before they shine on you. They reflect possibility, not permission. The universe doesn’t operate on a hierarchy of birthdays—it answers only to truth, curiosity, and conviction.
So I’ll keep questioning.
And if you’re reading this—maybe you will too.
Because dismantling ageism starts when we stop mistaking age for authority, and start recognizing that insight, brilliance, and change can come from any voice bold enough to speak.
