Older women are doing remarkable things – it’s time for the putdowns to end

People proudly parrot statements such as, “I’m growing older but not getting old” (meaning, “How terrible to be old!”). I even heard that line quoted approvingly by one of the middle-aged hosts of the recent Australia Day Award ceremony.

Then there are shop assistants who serve an old person by asking, “What can I do for you, young lady/man?” (that is, “I see that you’re old and will mock it by calling you young”).

When author Jane Caro wrote about her husband’s angry response to this example of ageism, it created quite a Twitter storm. Can’t you take a joke? But, as Caro replied, “Benign ageism, hostile ageism. One often turns into the other, and both make the recipients feel diminished.”

Benign ageism applies as much to the stereotyping of young people (wasting their money on smashed avocado) as it does to the old.