Ageism & Participation

Ageism & Participation Report-back Session on International Federation on Ageing 8th Global Conference – Feb. 1 2007 Timothy Ma Senior Citizen Home Safety Association Ageism & Participation

Ageism • Ageism – age-based stereotypes or generalizations as well as discriminatory behavior • The negative consequences of stereotyping that lead to discrimination • Focused on “old-ageism” Ageism & Participation

Age Discrimination in 5 continents • Current situations around the issue of age discrimination in Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia were presented : • Different levels of age discrimination were experienced, while developing countries in Africa have a higher level of age discrimination Ageism & Participation

Presenters • Dr. Sara E. Rix, AARP Public Policy Institute • Helen Meenan, Jean Monnet Chair in European Law, Kingston University • Prof. Helen Bartlett, Director of Australasian Centre on Ageing, University of Queensland • Kasturi Sen, INTRAC, University of Oxford • Dr. Tavengwa Machekano Nhongo, Africa Representative, Help Age International Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in America • Age discrimination exist in many areas such as in employment, media, health care system, social security services • Though age discrimination exists, as the labor force participation rates at upper ages are quite high and the ageing problem in America is not serious compared with other developed countries, therefore age discrimination in not at high priority in public agenda. • It is viewed more as an economic issue than a civil rights issue (McCann, 2003), eg. Labor cost, health care cost Ageism & Participation

Age Discrimination in EU • Situations vary in different Member States • Ireland is one of the first countries which combat discrimination in multiple grounds • Introduction of the Employment Directive  introduction of age discrimination law in many EU Member States • High concern of anti-discrimination and equal treatment • Public perception of discrimination was not serious. In a survey 2003, only 5% (out of 16,000) of the respondents reported that they had experience in age discrimination Ageism & Participation

Age Discrimination in EU • Increase attention to age discrimination on Goods and services • Report Age Barriers: Older people’s experience of discrimination in access to goods, facilities and service by AGE, surveyed members in 17 Member States • 13 areas included, eg. Abuse of older people, education, training, social security, health care services, etc. • Uneven picture of civic awareness, low media interest and public debate, tend to focus on negative aspects of ageing Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in Australia • The ageing population raised policy attention in age discrimination • Promotion of “Positive Ageing Strategy” and “active ageing” • However, little attention is given to age discrimination compared with other forms such as gender discrimination • Age-related complaints between 5-8% per annum (Encel, 2001) Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in Asia • The cultures of Asia hold elders in high regard, but the value is changing when the value on family is changing • In the past, governments tend to rely on family to give support to elderly • Absolute poverty of the elderly is one of the most serious challenges • The Madrid Plan on Ageing (2003) promotes self-help and participation in the development of the elderly - Ageism & Participation

Age Discrimination in Africa • Rapid growth of aged population • Serious age discrimination • High level of mistreatment, neglect and abandonment of older people • Old people’s rights as human beings are not recognized nor valued • In areas like employment, health care system, hospital policies, social security, etc. Ageism & Participation

Age Discrimination in Africa • No policies or legal framework can protect the rights of old people, even though Africa have its signatures in UN and International Declarations • The issue has slowly came to the table of organizations and governments, only a few countries have developed policies on ageing • The civil society started to address the issue in the 80’s • e.g. The Policy Framework and Plan of action on Ageing by the African Union Ageism & Participation

Gendered ageism • Women are especially vulnerable to discrimination, it may due to poverty, and it is a vicious cycle • Africa: • older women cannot get loans or credit facilities in some banks, nor can they buy houses through mortgage  more likely to be poor • Old widows are more susceptible to all forms of abuse, eg. Murder, being disinherit of property • 60% of older women in Kenya were abused by their daughter in law (eg. Not giving them enough food, clothes, medical attention and shelter (HAI/WHO. 2005) • The belief of witchcraft caused old women being targeted and be attacked, badly injured and killed (HAI, 2001) Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in Employment • Perception: high cost for hiring older workers • Eg. Health care cost, paid more but lower productivity • Job applications • America: • over 2/3 of workers aged 45-74 believed that “workers face age discrimination in the workplace” (AARP, 2002) • Younger job applicants were favored over older applicants (Lahey, 2005; Bendick et al. 1999) • Australia: • Age is a key factor influencing recruitment decisions • 32% of employers asked about age of applicants (Bennington, 2001) Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in Employment • Job applications (Con’t) • EU: • Maximum ages for recruitment set between the ages of 32-40, the use of age limits in job advertisements (Eurolink Age) • Different types of age limits used: straightforward chronological age, age banding, age grouping • Africa: • Out of a total of 4600 advertisement specifying age, 99.7% required people below the age of 40 (Nhongo, 2005) Ageism & Participation

Age discrimination in Employment • Unemployment • Australia: age worker when unemployed, they tend to be unemployed longer and more difficult to be employed (Bishop, 1999) • Retirement • America: lower-wage rehiring • Australia: employers “persuade” employees to retire at the “compulsory” retirement age, the effective retirement age fall from majority in age 65-69 in 1997 to 61 in 2003 (Patterson, 2004) Ageism & Participation

Legislation • Legislation does have positive impact in eliminating age discrimination Ageism & Participation

Apart from legislation… • Legislation alone is not enough to achieve changes • NGO participation in fighting against age discrimination and increasing public awareness is important • Eg. AARP, the Council on the Ageing in Australia • Community program • Eg. Community action programme in EU Ageism & Participation

Participation • Political participation • Volunteering and perform service in own community – the 50+ years population • Turning the myth of “the burden of the elderly” into “the resources of the elderly” • One way to change the situation of age discrimination Ageism & Participation

Participation - Volunteering • Result found that older people see the development of incentives as very important (Warburton, Dann) • Combining lifelong learning opportunities with meaningful roles in the voluntary sector will attract those aging baby boomers, who are more numerous, better educated, healthier, to assist NGO in serving the community Ageism & Participation

Participation -- Political • Not too many coverage on this aspect • Voting / Election • Different countries have different interpretation & varies level , such as USA – AARP’s influence on president election, etc.. • Level of participation varies • Remain a vacuum for further exploration Ageism & Participation

Participation -- Employment • The cause of elder employment – for income , for interest, for experience sustainability, for better use of retirement time • Employment rate varies • Employment Protection, such as Employee Insurance affects the participation rate • The provision and varieties of employment opportunities also affects their participation Ageism & Participation

Reflections for HK on Ageism • Ageism – presents in different dimensions, such as employment, service provision, even on choices as well as the values that dominated by the service industry • Ageism – perceived as low income and consumption power, silver market not yet developed • Protection on Ageism – not yet developed Ageism & Participation

Reflection for HK on Participation • Participation opportunities do existed • Level of participation on politics remains at a low level, such as voting • Ageing employment – not too many opportunities, focus on youth oriented employment market Ageism & Participation

Reflection for HK on Participation • Ageing volunteers – a general culture, yet needs more recognition • Consumers – a further way to develop • Education – U3A, the new scheme to be launched by EC Ageism & Participation

Thank you! Ageism & Participation

Ageism & Participation