Ashton Applewhite joins the MileAGE podcast to challenge our biases — unconscious or otherwise — about aging! Ageism manifests itself in such a broad set of ways that it’s often difficult to sort out where we might be doing it. Tune in to this fascinating talk to get an idea of where we could begin.
We’re all aging, and everyone’s talking about it!
Key Takeaways
[:40] Jenna introduces author and activist, Ashton Applewhite, and asks her to talk about how she came to be interested in longevity and eventually agism.
[5:00] We’re all ageist. We’re all sexist. We’re all racist. The culture we grow up in shapes this into all of us. Ashton speaks to the importance of unlearning and educating ourselves.
[7:00] Challenging preconceived notions with regards to age happens at the values level, Ashton shares some examples of what she calls “successful aging” and how we can all tackle our “stills.”
[9:25] Letting go of the idea that to be good at aging we have to do things as we did in our younger years.
[11:30] Ashton rightfully points out that ageism is not only about old age.
[12:50] The cultural tendency to use generational labels is an enormous part of agist thinking. Ashton speaks to the broadening heterogeneity of “age groups.”
[16:00] Judging each individual according to their interests and abilities.
[17:40] What about the notion that ageism is a natural response because old age reminds us of our mortality.
[19:45] Asthon answers the question: “I don’t want to be called a senior citizen! Ew!”
[22:00] The unconscious biases Ashton runs into herself and the most common ones she sees crop up in different ways and different settings.
[24:24] Ashton offers that we might each start with minding how we use the words young and old and shares a resource: The Old School Anti-Ageism Clearing House.
[26:04] Jenna thanks Ashton Applewhite for coming on the podcast. Until next time, subscribe, rate, and share!
If you enjoyed today’s episode, make sure to subscribe, rate us, and visit our website at agewell-nih-appta.ca/mileage-podcast for more information.
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Find out more about Ashton on her Blog, her LinkedIn and follow her on Twitter
Buy Ashton Applewhite's book here!
Celadonbooks.com/book/this-chair-rocks-a-manifesto-against-ageism/
