We're quick to notice ageism. But sometimes we harbor ageist assumptions about growing older that we may not be fully aware of. Dr. Tracey Gendron, author of Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It, argues that there's a healthier perspective on aging as a new developmental stage of life.

We discuss:

Why she thinks everything you know about aging is wrong

The driving forces behind ageism

The consequences of ageism – for individuals, businesses, and societies

Myths about older workers that need to be busted

The downsides of traditional retirement and age-segregated communities

How retirement can be a new developmental stage of life

How can people ask themselves more strength-based and growth-centered questions on aging

Ableism and how elderhood offers a new vision of later life

How she defines aging

Dr. Gendron joins us from Virginia.

___________________

Bio

Dr. Tracey Gendron serves as Chair for the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Gerontology. Tracey has a Master’s degree in Gerontology, a Master’s degree in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology. With over 25 years of experience as a gerontologist, Dr. Gendron has authored and co-authored over 30 manuscripts and seven book chapters on ageism and aging-related topics. She is frequently quoted in popular media outlets, including the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and U.S. News and World Report. Dr. Gendron has spoken about ageism in forums across America.

_________________________

For More on Dr. Tracey Gendron

Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It

_________________________

Podcast Episodes You May Like

From Role to Soul – Connie Zweig

The Age Tech Revolution – Keren Etkin

Are You Ready for The New Long Life? – Andrew Scott

Retirement Planning Includes Getting Good at Getting Older – Rabbi Laura Geller

_________________________

Wise Quotes

On Why Everything You Know About Aging is Wrong

"...the way that we talk about aging is usually all about how our bodies age and decline. So we're all familiar with the aches and the pains and the different injuries that we may have or disability or illnesses. And that's most of what we associate with aging. And yes, that is part of aging. But when I say everything else you know about aging is wrong, it is because we don't talk about aging in terms of growth in terms of opportunity and in terms of development. What do you like better about yourself now than you did last year, or the year before, or five years ago? Aging is really change and not negative change. It's positive change as well. So, that's what I'm getting at with everything you think you know about aging is wrong - because you really just hear about a single story of aging, which is the story of decline. Then when you look at the messages that are given about aging from the larger culture, it also feeds that narrative and really brings us a sense of shame about getting older. Instead of growing older, [it's] how we have to fight aging and how we should hide the visible signs of aging. All of that really comes together to shape what you think you know about aging. And the book is saying let's look at this a little more critically and then let's see if you can make a decision for yourself about how you want to see aging."

On The Consequences of Ageism

"Decades of knowledge and research shows that how we feel about our own aging - if we have negative attitudes - is bad for our health. But it's not something that we really talk about and not something that most people know, so there's some pretty serious consequences of negative attitudes towards aging or what I would call in...