Ageism Ageism is bias against a person or group on the grounds of age . When that bias is the primary motivation behind acts of discrimination against that person or group , then those acts constitute age discrimination . The two common forms Although ageism can refer to bias against any age group , ageism ( and age discrimination ) are usually focused on either of two targets , the actual age limits being vague : Young people ( Ageism against adolescents is also called `` Adultism `` ) , stereotypically calling them immature , insubordinate and irresponsible . In its worst forms , it is also known as `` Ephebiphobia `` . The elderly , stereotypically calling them slow , weak , dependent and senile . Examples Age discrimination Age discrimination in employment may differ somewhat from race and gender discrimination , in that it does not usually take the form of wage discrimination . Older workers , on average , make more than younger workers do . Firms may be afraid to offer older workers lower wages than younger workers . Instead they will simply not promote or not hire an older worker . They may also encourage early retirement or layoff disproportionately older/more experienced workers . Although , like all forms of discrimination , age discrimination has always been a problem , it is most severe at present in the entertainment and computer industries . Many elderly actors , musicians , scriptwriters , programmers , and electrical engineers have all complained that it is difficult for them to find work , even though they are well-qualified in terms of education and experience . Age discrimination in hiring has been shown to exist in the United States . Joanna Lahey , Economics professor at Texas A & M , found that firms are more than 40% more likely to interview a younger job applicant than an older job applicant . In a survey for the University of Kent , England , 29% of respondents stated that they had suffered from age discrimination . This is a higher proportion than for gender or race discrimination . Dominic Abrams , Social Psychology professor at the University , concluded that ageism is the most pervasive form of prejudice experienced in the UK population . Here is an Age Concern survey : How Ageist is Britain ? ( PDF ) . In a recent interview , famed actor Pierce Brosnan cited ageism as one of the contributing factors as to why he was not cast as James Bond in the upcoming Bond film , Casino Royale , to be released in 2006 . Responses Grass-roots activism Many groups have been set up in various countries to combat age discrimination , including : United Kingdom Age Concern British Youth Council Help the Aged United States Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions Gray Panthers : In the early 1970s , Maggie Kuhn formed the Gray Panthers , an organization with a goal of eliminating ageism in all forms . National Youth Rights Association Unions Many unions have thrown themselves into the battle against age discrimination . At present , the most prominent example is the Writers Guild of America West , which since 2002 has been waging a huge legal battle against much of the entertainment industry to get rid of the age discrimination commonly faced by elder scriptwriters . Laws Some countries enact laws against age discrimination , including : Australia Denmark Ireland United Kingdom Employment Equality ( Age ) Regulations 2006 United States Age Discrimination in Employment Act Related -isms Jeunism is the tendency to prefer younger candidates over equally or even better qualified older ones , as tends to happen e.g. in politics or certain commercial functions , in a cultural environment that admires the vitality and physicial beauty of youth , while the actual functions rather require moral or intellectual qualities . External links Age discrimination laws by the BBC Further reading Ageism In America Detailed report on ageism from the International Longevity Center . Ageism : Stereotyping and Prejudice Against Older Persons Edited scholarly volume of the latest research and theory on Ageism . An in-depth look at ageism by Linda M. Woolfe , Ph.D. , of Webster University Everyone deserves to be given a chance An essay against ageism towards teenagers , written by a Canadian adolescent . See also Effects of Ageing Memory and aging Aging brain Allophilia Over the hill Prejudice Categories : Aging | Prejudice and discrimination In other languages : Deutsch | Ελληνικά | Italiano | Nederlands | Polski | Português | Suomi 