This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Download to citation manager

Response to Commentaries on "The Ageism Survey

First Findings"

Dr. Palmore replies:

I appreciate Elias Cohen's pointing out the "Complex Nature of Ageism" and I agree with most of his comments. However, I would like to clarify a few minor points:

• My survey does not assume that all jokes about old age are ageist. The item reads, "I was told a joke that pokes fun at old people" (italics added).
  
• I think that senior discounts and early bird specials are not reflections of ageism, but simply marketing devices to get more business from seniors (just like other discounts and "sales").
  
• The problem of subjective interpretation versus intent of the professional is a common one with other forms of discrimination such as racism and sexism. However, I think the effect of an act that is interpreted as ageism may be the same regardless of intent of the actor.
  

I welcome Becca Levy's excellent comments on my Ageism Survey, "Eradication of Ageism Requires Addressing the Enemy Within." She points out that ageist stereotypes may operate unconsciously both in younger and in older people. However, if the stereotypes are unconscious, it would be difficult to measure them with a simple questionnaire such as the Ageism Survey.

Nevertheless, I found her theory that when implicit ageism is operating, the actors are likely to attribute their ageist behavior to "another factor that better fits their preferred self-image as reasonably fair individuals" to be especially cogent.

Furthermore, I think the statement that "even if older persons suspect a behavior was influenced by age, they may not want to admit to themselves that they have encountered ageism" may be the best explanation for the 23% of our respondents who denied ever having experienced any ageism.

I find the research and insights of Levy and her colleagues to be revealing and significant. I look forward to reading the chapter on "Implicit Ageism" by Levy and Banaji to be published in 2002.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Services Download to citation manager