scholarly journals Is part of ageism actually ableism?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Mariska van der Horst ◽  
Sarah Vickerstaff

Abstract Ageism is a widely used term that is not (yet) well understood. We propose a redefinition of ageism and to separate it from ableism. We believe this to be important as remedies may depend on whether someone is experiencing ageism or ableism. While focusing the discussion on older workers as a sub-group of older people who (can) experience ageism, we assess the usefulness of critical (feminist) disability studies for ageism research. We hope that redefining ageism and analytically separating it from ableism (without suggesting that both concepts should be studied independently from one another) will provide guidance for researchers who study ageism and will allow for more specific policy guidance on how to solve difficulties experienced by older workers.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hila Axelrad ◽  
Alexandra Kalev ◽  
Noah Lewin-Epstein

PurposeHigher pensionable age in many countries that are part of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and a shrinking pension income force older people to postpone their retirement. Yet, age-based discrimination in employers' decisions is a significant barrier to their employment. Hence, this paper aims to explore employers' attitudes regarding the employment of workers aged 60–70, striving for a better understanding of age discrimination.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 30 managers, experts and employees in retirement age in Israel.FindingsFindings reveal a spectrum of employers' attitudes toward the employment of older workers. The authors' analytical contribution is a conceptual typology based on employers' perceived ability to employ older workers and their stated attitudes toward the employment of older workers.Social implicationsThe insights that emerge from this research are fundamental for organizational actors' ability to expand the productive, unbiased employment of older workers.Originality/valueBy understanding employers' preferences and perspectives and the implications on employers' ability and/or willingness to employ older workers, this research will help policymakers formulate and implement policy innovations that address these biases.


Author(s):  
В.Ю. Бабышев ◽  
Г. А. Барышева

В статье рассматривается занятость лиц пожилого возраста в условиях сорвеменных технологических, медицинских и демографических изменений. Актуальность темы исследования обусловлена демографическим старением населения, современными достижениями медицины и изменением характера трудовых операций в результате научно-технического прогресса. В данной статье проверены следующие конкурирующие гипотезы: производительность работников старших возрастных групп находится ниже уровня рентабельности из-за неуклонного ухудшения здоровья или, наоборот, ценность работников старших возрастных групп на современном рынке труда возрастает из-за повышения роли опыта, навыков и квалификации. Дополнительно проанализирован вопрос влияния систем пенсионного обеспечения на мотивацию лиц пожилого возраста к продолжению трудовой деятельности. Для проверки данных гипотез на основе статистики Организации экономического сотрудничества и развития проведен анализ общего уровня занятости, участия в рабочей силе и безработицы, а также временной и неполной занятости по нескольким возрастным группам в диапазоне 15-65 лет и старше. Для оценки динамики проанализирована ситуация на 2000 и 2019 гг. В целом сделан вывод, что количественные и качественные параметры занятости у работников старших возрастных групп уступают среднему рабочему возрасту, однако во временной динамике использование человеческого капитала лиц пожилого возраста растет. В области геронтологии рекомендовано уделять повышенное внимание улучшению здоровья возрастной когорты 65 лет и старше и изменению трудового законодательства в плане стимулирования продолжения трудовой деятельности после официального наступления пенсионного возраста. The article examines the employment of older people in the context of disrupted technological, medical and demographic changes. The relevance of the research topic is due to the demographic aging of the population, modern medical advances and changes in the nature of labor operations as a result of scientific and technological progress. In this article, the following competing hypotheses are tested: the productivity of older workers is below the level of profitability due to a steady decline in health, or vice versa, the value of older workers in the modern labor market is increasing due to the increasing role of experience, skills and qualifications. Additionally, the question of the impact of pension systems on the motivation of older people to continue working is analyzed. To test these hypotheses, based on OECD statistics, we analyzed the overall level of employment, labor force participation and unemployment, as well as temporary and underemployment for several age groups in the range of 15-65+ years. To assess the dynamics, the situation for 2000 and 2019 was analyzed. In general, the author concludes that the quantitative and qualitative parameters of employment of older people are inferior to the average working age, but over time, the use of the human capital of older people is growing. In the field of gerontology, it is recommended to pay increased attention to improving the health of the 65+ age cohort and changing labor legislation in order to stimulate the continuation of work.


Ekonomika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-68
Author(s):  
Kristina Zitikytė

 The Lithuanian population is aging, and it causes many difficulties for public finances by increasing expenditures on health care, long-term care, and pensions, and also for the labor market by creating labor shortages. One of the ways to cope with demographic aging is to rise the employment rate of older people. According to Eurostat, the employment rate of the elderly aged 55–64 years increased from 49.6 percent in 2005 to 68.5 percent in 2018 in Lithuania and it is higher than the average employment rate of older workers in European Union, which was 58.7 percent in 2018. This paper focuses on older people in Lithuania, aged 55 and over, trying to answer a question whether the elderly in Lithuania willingly work or try to find alternatives such as receiving long-term social insurance benefits. The research findings show that the activity of older people in the labor market grows, and even the share of people with disabilities staying in the labor market increases. However, this analysis also shows that older people are more under risk to lose their job during an economic crisis, and this suggests that trying to find work alternatives can be closely related to one’s economic situation. Moreover, health problems remain one of the main factors limiting the activity of older people in the labor market. It is also noticeable that some labor force reserves exist among people with disabilities and this supposes that creating better adapted working conditions for older and disabled workers in Lithuania could probably contribute to meeting the needs of an aging workforce.


2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (10) ◽  
pp. 835-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luo Lu ◽  
Shu-Fang Kao ◽  
Ying-Hui Hsieh
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-168
Author(s):  
Raza M. Mirza ◽  
Lynn Mcdonald ◽  
Laura Tamblyn-Watts

Ageism in the workplace can have significant implications for older adults. While every individual should feel equal and have the right to employment free from discrimination due to age, many practices and policies do not appear to uphold this right in the labour market. Institutional practices and policies seem to perpetuate stereotypes about older people. A “pro-aging” campaign to raise awareness about ageism in the workplace was run in the City of Toronto in 2019. The campaign included posters and pop-up advertising of a fake aging cream and research on attitudes toward aging and understanding the “too old” narrative as part of inclusive workplace policies. Workplace diversity policies often do not include age considerations, and understanding the factors that lead to ageism may allow for the development of strategies to help combat it. Age-diverse workplaces may gain competitive advantage by learning to harness the power of intergenerational relationships.


Signs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-55
Author(s):  
Sami Schalk ◽  
Jina B. Kim

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