Adultism versus Ageism

[Adam]

I know this is opening an old can of worms, but I can't find that can anywhere in these forums. Alex, we've talked about this before, for sure.

Anyway, Adultism or Ageism? Its all semantics, right?

I'm pro the use of the word adultism now. I used to be on the other side of the fence, but my recent work with Youth on Board and other national youth organizations has driven me towards accepting the commonly used language. Its pretty much that simple. YOB writes this:

The way our society is structured, older people have more power than younger people do. In general, adults have access to more resources and information than young people. In contrast, young people have fewer resources and rights. This creates a power dynamic we call “adultism.” Adultism is a term applied to any behavior, action, language, or limitation placed on young people’s rights that does not afford them the respect that they deserve as human beings. It is often predicated on the belief that, because someone is young, they lack intelligence or ability.

You may be wondering why we use the term “adultism” to describe an age-related attitude and behavior pattern. The truth is, the term “ageism” was already taken. Ageism is discrimination based on age, especially against middle-aged and elderly people, as defined by The American Heritage Dictionary. Adultism differs from ageism in that adultism is targeted at young people.

That is pretty convincing to me. And plus, lots of folks know the word. See Freechild for more examples, including John Bell's excellent article.

AARP uses ageism. I'll let 'em have it.

[Yasha]

As I said in the other thread:

I think part of my opposition to the term adultism is that I don't really think being an "adult" means much of anything. People above a given age aren't all the same and their defining characteristics break up into lots of different factions that shouldn't be unified by the terms we use. That's just what I think offhand though.

[KPalicz]

Ah, my favorite topic, heh.

Two primary reasons I prefer ageism to adultism.

First, the only people I hear use the term adultism, are adults. It seems like more of a clinical term, or a professional word, its not intuitive. It just seems stuffier, like you need to be some professor of liberation theory to get into it. Ageism just comes naturally to people. Why am I being discriminated against? Because of my age. Oh, ageism. My focus is always on the outreach side of things. Ageism just makes sense to people and doesn't need much explination. So I don't need to spend time defining the term, I can just jump into describing the idea. Everyone knows racism and sexism (discrimination based on race and sex) ageism, discrimination based on age, makes sense.

Plus, I think using the same term the AARP and elderly rights activists use recognizes that we are really on different sides of the same coin. I think long term, and I hope to one day make common cause with those who fight ageism on the other end of the spectrum. Using the same language helps to bring us closer together, create mutual understanding on both sides. Using adultism I fear accentuates the "otherness" about youth, and youth rights, that we are trying to fight.

[Yasha]

I absolutely and totally agree. That actually happens quite often, even though it doesn't seem like it from the sides we usually take on these forums. Great job.

[Galen]

Discrimination against one's sex: sexism

Discrimination against one's race: racism

Discrimination against one's age: ageism

2 + 2 = 4

Every time I read the word "adultism" I cringe. It sounds like we're fighting discrimination against adults. And, in truth, we are. We're fighting age-based discrimination and our fight IS the same fight as that of the AARP, even though most people on both sides haven't recognized that yet. It's fine to say "youth right" or "elderly rights" or whatever, but it all comes down to the same thing: age-based discrimination. Any form of it is wrong. I truly hope that one day NYRA and the AARP can stand side-by-side to fight all forms of ageism together. We're all fighting the same war, just different battles.

So, there's no problem with using the same word as the AARP because we are fighting the same thing: Ageism.

The concept of calling it "adultism" is, to me, much like the way that people commonly refer to bigotry against white people from blacks as "reverse-racism." WTF? It's not reversed, it's just racism, plain and simple!

And not to mention the fact that I, as an adult, find the term "adultism" to be a bit insulting. As if all adults are lumped into the same category as "the enemy." There are many GOOD adults fighting the YR fight and it's unfair to us to use a term that insults OUR age group while at the same time claiming to be against age-based discrimination. Youth shouldn't be "anti-adult" any more than adults should be anti-youth. Both ideas are very very wrong!


-Galen

[Yasha]

Shouldn't that be 1 + 1 + 1 = 3?

You're point is still totally right.

[SciVille]

The concept of calling it "adultism" is, to me, much like the way that people commonly refer to bigotry against white people from blacks as "reverse-racism." WTF? It's not reversed, it's just racism, plain and simple!

Yes! Thank you!

[XavierAKadafi]

Yeah, I'm feeling the same way as ya'll.. Besides that, it makes it out to seem like we're more hating toward adults and etc. with the term adultism.. ageism just seems like we're tired of being kicked around..

[Yasha]

Well all the NYRA regulars seem to agree. What are your reactions to the points we are bringing up Adam?

I'm not closed to the term Adultism, but I do have the same negative reaction to it so far as the ones being expressed by most of the people in this thread.

[SciVille]

Poor Adam! Nobody agrees with him!

[Yasha]

I know how it feels.

[Adam]

Thanks for asking Jason. I guess that the most important thing that I'm learning here is about accessibility. A lot of theory has the dilemma of not being approachable to non-academics- not that I'm one of them, but... you get the idea.

The challenge that I face here is that the oldest, most founded organization in the youth field to promote youth involvement uses the word "adultism" exclusively, for the reason I've previously mentioned. So when I'm in that field, I've gotta play by that term. When I'm here, I can use the commonly accepted vernacular. It just sucks to me to have to bridge that divide, I guess.

Although, a question comes to my mind about continuing to connect NYRA and the youth rights movement with other/broader youth movements. I really think that we should all have a common language and be using the same terms. But then, I also believe that NYRA validates the opinions, ideas, and knowledge of youth better than many other orgs in that broad youth movement (a particular "type" of youth, for sure, but still, even that better than others). Because of that, NYRA's determination to use "ageism" more authentically represents youth than other orgs, and as someone who stands with NYRA and considers himself an ally of youth, I feel its important to hear and acknowledge and learn from what you all are saying... Ah, fk. I dunno.

[Yasha]

Im glad for the candid response. You should spend more time on the forums here. You fit right in.

[KPalicz]

He really has been. Adam has been tearing this place up in the last week. Its awesome We truly benefit by having you around Adam, glad to see you spending time here.

[XavierAKadafi]

Yeah, thanks much for comin' around.. You're fitting right in perfectly

[KPalicz]

I've expanded this discussion into an ass kicking blog entry. Enjoy:

http://www.oneandfour.org/archives/2..._vs_adult.html

[Tempus Fugit]

Alexxxxx

[Superman]

I read some, got bored.

Here's my deal: We don't want to blame adults, they are not all to blame. That's like saying that white people are the cause of all black peoples problems.

Each of those statements could be argued, but the truth is that I wouldn't want an organization I was in blaming any peticular group of people for their own problems, and that is what this falls under.

Straight and simple. 2+2=4

[Yasha]

Agreed. We are talking age discrimination and the rights of youth. Not only adults can be against youth rights or support and practice age based discrimination. Saying Adultism instead of Ageism is like saying Whiteism or Blackism or whatever instead Racism.

[BioC0de]

Agreed. We are talking age discrimination and the rights of youth. Not only adults can be against youth rights or support and practice age based discrimination. Saying Adultism instead of Ageism is like saying Whiteism or Blackism or whatever instead Racism.

Oof. Took the words right out of my mouth- er, computer- er... you know what I mean

Adultism == Whiteism etc

Ageism =