Typically, when we think of privilege, we do not fully realize the extent to which young adults are automatically included in society. Our opinions, buying power, sexuality, and intelligence are all taken for granted. We are seen as technologically savvy, adept in the workforce, innovative and energetic. Because of these assumptions, younger adults enjoy privileges in treatment at the expense of older adults and seniors.
The first privilege of youth is (in general) enjoying uncomplicated health. I do not say ‘good’ health, because I think it is a myth that seniors do not enjoy, on average, ‘good’ health. However, I think it requires more effort to maintain good health the older you are, and often more visits to a health professional, medication and vitamin aids and different tools are necessary to help maintain health. This is why I say youth has the advantage of ‘uncomplicated’ good health. When you are young, you do not have to think about being healthy as long as you follow a reasonable lifestyle that excludes drugs, alcohol, and risky behaviors. The privilege of driving is also one that can be ascribed to youth. It is a stereotype that they cannot drive because of sight or hearing, and many people are rude to seniors who are driving, assuming that they are bad drivers because of their age.
Youth also enjoys greater access to employment opportunities, including promotions. Employers may feel as if a younger person is more alert, in tune with the current times and has a longer number of years to give to the company. Younger people also will not be collecting pensions anytime soon, which can be a financial drain on a company. Older workers may be discriminated against when it comes time for promotions, for the same above reasons. In fact, 64% of workers over the age of 55 say they have experienced age discrimination in their workplaces. (Fleck, 2014)
One of the reasons older people are passed over for promotions and employment opportunities is related the fifth and sixth privileges of youth. Older people much face the subtle discrimination that they are hard of hearing, slow minded and unintelligent due to their age. The older they get, the worse this discrimination becomes. Older people are also presumed to be close-minded or unable to change and adapt, versus the adaptability or free spirit of younger individuals. There is a stereotype represented in the media of the feeble-minded senior shouting at a youth to speak louder or the grandparent who refuses to embrace a new way of doing things.
Representation in media is a seventh privilege of youth. The young can turn the television, go the movies, read books and magazines targeted towards their concerns and representing their ideals and lifestyles. Older people do not have that broad array of representation in the media. Younger people are also assumed technologically adept while older adults may face the prejudice that they are unable to operate basic devices such as cell phones. In fact, there are commercials on television that market larger cell phones with simple, oversized buttons specifically for seniors. This does a disservice to older people because it again, is a way of showing how society assumes seniors are slow and unchanging.
One of the reasons older individuals may not be represented in the media as well is related to the next privilege of youth, a lack of aging. Older individuals are pressured to artificially reverse the natural clock of aging. They are pressured to use cosmetic procedures to get rid of winkles, age spots, gray hair, etc. Youth does not have to worry about this (though to be fair, youth do face pressure to be fit and beautiful.) As well, youths are not considered sexless due to their age. Seniors are discriminated against when it comes to the availability of dating websites, products, and entertainment geared towards their age bracket. This is due to the stereotype that seniors are both unattractive and uninterested in maintaining healthy, active sex lives.
Youth also enjoys the privilege of identity. Youth are assumed to be different from each other and have unique personalities, likes, dislikes, and opinions. Often seniors are thought to all think, act, dress, and be concerned with the same issues. As people age, it is as if society has decided they no longer have individual identities, and are no longer the same people they were in youth in terms of their unique talents, skills and viewpoints.
Younger adults enjoy a number of resources and opportunities. Often youths can avail themselves of special employment, educational and artistic programs. Employers may target younger employees for special retirement plans. Local businesses will cater special and promotions to younger people to obtain their business. Obstacles and consequences that come with being a younger adult, on the other hand, is that youth are sometimes considered less established and responsible. Lenders may not want to issues loans to younger people, and car insurance companies charge higher rates for adults under a certain age.
In my practice as a social worker, I may be influenced by my identity as a younger adult in my understanding of issues that affect younger people and my lack of understanding of geriatric issues. I will have to make sure I am well versed in obstacles individuals face as they age, and the special services and assistance they may need in order to obtain the same level of care and respect in different situations that younger adults are automatically accorded. Discrimination in any form is wrong; however, age discrimination is especially foolish. We should respect older adults as sources of wisdom and knowledge to help us avoid mistakes and solve problems that they have encountered and overcome. Privilege accorded to individuals based on age is detrimental to the overall health and richness of society, and we should take steps to ensure elders are included in mainstream society.
REFERENCES
Fleck, C. (2014). Job Ageism and Labor Law Disputes in the Workplace - AARP. AARP. Retrieved 20 October 2014, from http://www.aarp.org/work/on-the-job/info- 2014/workplace-age-discrimination-infographic.html
