Familiar Bias

A video came across my desk with a request for input. The work was excellent, except for this: A smartphone screen displaying the headline, “Safe Outdoor Activities for Seniors.”

That last word is troublesome in itself. Research shows people associate it with “frail” and “incapable.” But the whole title is problematic, suggesting that older adults are endangered outdoors.

Explaining my feedback, I said it was like “Easy Math Problems for Ladies.” No one would use that title, because it’s full-on stereotyping that’s not just annoying—it’s harmful.  

It’s often helpful to compare ageism with blatant bias that we already understand.

Photo by Monika Kubala on Unsplash