In this 2017 TED talk, writer Ashton Applewhite discusses some of her fears about aging and how they are rooted in ageism. TED Conferences LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a U.S. media organization that posts talks online for free distribution under the slogan “ideas worth spreading”. In this video Applewhite names stereotypes about old people before discussing how they’re rooted in structural prejudice that pits young people against old people. Applewhite says that the difference between this and other forms of prejudice is that  everyone will be young and old in their lives, so this is prejudice we enact against ourselves.

discussion

Can you name some of the examples Applewhite gives of age stereotypes?

Applewhite says that “You can’t make money off satisfaction, but shame and fear create markets, and capitalism always needs new markets.” What do you think she means by this?

Applewhite uses comedy throughout to make her point, do you think this helps her point? Why or why not?

Applewhite discusses how ageism affects men and women differently, can you think of other examples of how it may affect people based on their identity?