Why it is vital that we actively welcome and encourage ALL ages into the anti-ageism movement? What can we do to counteract harmful, ageism messages that we internalise from as young as the age of 4? Our founder and Anti-Ageist Activist of 2023, Jacynth discusses this and her commitment to the age-inclusive, pro-age cause in the teaser for our latest and last episode of the series, 'Ageism And... Me'
Throughout this limited series, our founder Jacynth has been joined by a special guest, with each episode focusing on a different topic, and how ageism intersects with and manifests within it.
But for the last episode of series 1, Jacynth turns the lens - or rather, the mic - on herself, as she shares her story and journey to date as a leading anti-ageism advocate, and reflects her own experiences of, and relationship with, ageism and ageing.
Afterall, throughout the series, Jacynth has been inviting our guests and, you, our listeners to consider your own experiences, views and understanding of ageism, so it is only fair that she does the same!
So in this final episode, Jacynth discusses how she got into the ageism movement and became Anti-Ageist Activist of 2023 at the age of 31, and answers commonly asked questions including:
And she reflects on progress to date, shares her vision and hopes for 2024, and why the next step is for ageism to become movement for ALL ages.
Along with much more...
What does it take to be an activist? How can we all make a difference? And with so many different views and opinions on ending ageism and what changing the narrative looks like, can - if at all - these different schools of thought sit alongside each other? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, Ashton Applewhite, discuss this in the teaser for the episode 'Ageism And... Activism'
Activism is at the heart of the anti-ageism movement, and it's where Ageism Is Never In Style®'s roots lie. It's an award-winning campaign, and our founder Jacynth was recently honoured to have been awarded 'Anti-Ageist Activist' of the year at the inaugural Advantages Of Age Awards 2023.
But what do we mean by activism? It's a controversial word and one that not everyone responds well to... For some it carries connotations of hostility and aggression, and in some cases it has been co-opted by movements and individuals who might lean towards more extremist methods. But activism is simply describing the action of campaigning to bring about social change.
So essentially for us here at Ageism Is Never In Style®, it means taking conscious steps against ageism.
And activism can come in all shapes and sizes; it can involve joining communities or campaigns, to participating in physical rallies and protests. Or it could be sharing your story, wearing a badge, or just sparking a conversation with loved ones. Or maybe it’s even just having a conversation with ourselves to challenge our own internalised biases….
In this episode, Jacynth dives into the world of anti-ageism activism and advocacy with special guest and fellow activist and internationally recognised expert on ageism, Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism; a co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse - a platform that curates, creates, commissions and disseminates free resources to educate people about ageism and how to end it - and one of the World Health Organisation’s Healthy Aging 50: fifty leaders transforming the world to be a better place to grow older.
Together they discuss what it means to be an activist and how each of us has it within us to make a difference, even on the smallest scale; as well as ageism’s position alongside other social justice movements; how we can reconcile different attitudes and theories around ageing (for example – should age be irrelevant? Is 'ageless' a good term?); and how we can encourage others to join the ageism movement. Along with much more...
Why do only 8% of companies include AGE on their DEI statements? Why aren't companies embracing the importance - and proven worth - of intergenerational workforces? And what barriers are we placing in front of ourselves that makes it harder for age to be valued in the workplace? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, Barbara Brooks, discuss this in the teaser for the episode 'Ageism And... The Workplace'
Ageism has repeatedly been found to be the leading form of discrimination in the workplace, affecting both job applicants and workers. 62% of workers aged 50 and above believe older workers continue to face age discrimination, and over 93% assert that ageism in the workplace is a regular.
And yet only 8% of companies list age on their DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) statements...
What’s more, there are many points of intersectionality uncover. As well as remembering that ageism can affect anyone at any age, it can manifest in different ways based on issues such as gender, race, disability or sexuality. So understanding these differences is fundamental to addressing them effectively.
In this episode, Jacynth is joined pro-age speaker, facilitator, thought starter, and the founder and CEO of Second Act Women Barbara Brooks, and together they dive deeply into how age bias manifests in the workplace: from recruitment & HR issues; to why age is so often left off the DEI agenda; to the importance and value of intergenerational workforces; to how age discrimination is protected differently the UK vs US under employment law.
And they particularly hone in on gendered ageism (the intersectionality between ageism and sexism), and its impact on women over a certain age, discussing how women themselves can address this - as well as be allies and support one another - and what work places can also do to help. That is, of course, if that's necessary at all; after all there is a controversial theory that suggests older women have it easier in the workplace....
All this, and more, is explored in the latest episode.
More brands are starting to feature older models and people. But is being done for the right reasons? Or is it tokenistic, greywashing and 'jumping on the bandwagon'? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest, fashion stylist Claire Ginzler, discuss this 'trend' and how to spot consistency and authenticity vs spurious and superficial gestures in this teaser for our episode 'Ageism And... Fashion'
The fashion industry is a multi-billion dollar with over 1 in 10 of the global workforce contributing to making and selling the world's clothes, shoes and accessories. Combine this with the industry’s undeniable influence over cultural and socio-economic attitudes, norms and behaviors, and you have an incredible force to recon with.
So when it comes specifically to ageism – something fashion is notorious for – we have an industry that is hugely powerful and responsible for shaping both society’s and our own views around ageing. And it’s vital that we engage with the industry and enact change from within, rather than reject it, if we want to end ageism once and for all.
And yes, progress is happening. But it often feels tokenistic and is moving at an incremental pace. The good news is that there are more and more voices actively working with and in the fashion industry who are advocating and driving change.
In this episode, founder Jacynth is joined by highly revered fashion stylist Claire Ginzler (who's credits and clients include Stuart Weitzman, Calvin Klein, John Lewis, M&S, Prue Leith and Sarah Pascoe - not to mention she discovered J W Anderson when Director of On|Off) as they discuss the development of age-inclusivity in fashion over the years; expose tokenism vs authentic commitments by brands; why age representation is so important; and how consumers can both champion change and truly embrace age through fashion and style.
What is the new 'pro-age' beauty movement that is taking social media by storm? How is it the antithesis of anti-ageing? And how is the beauty industry responding? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest Ruby Hammer MBE discuss in this teaser of our new episode 'Ageism And... Beauty'
Beauty can boost our confidence, be a form of self-expression and creativity, and have a positive impact in helping us feeling and projecting our best selves.
But there is no denying that beauty and cosmetics – and in particular the industry that creates and markets them – has been, and continues to be, one of the most responsible for perpetuating ageism and promoting youth-centric ideals in society.
So you can’t get very far talking about ageism without bringing beauty into the conversation. It is, after all, the creator of ‘anti-ageing’ and the myth that ageing is a period of decline you can combat by buying the right product. But despite this, we are increasingly seeing a push back with age-inclusive and age-positive advocates, influencers and brands cutting through this noise, and inspiring and driving change.
So in Episode 3 of 'Ageism Is Never In Style - The Podcast' our founder Jacynth is joined by global makeup artist, brand founder and beauty expert, Ruby Hammer MBE.
Together they explore the beauty industry's role in perpetuating ageism, the burgeoning age-positive and pro-age movement that is growing and blossoming in response, and how we can harness the power of the consumer, and leverage our united voices in a positive way on social media and beyond to really drive change and make the industry sit up and take note.
Age is the silent killer of talent, opportunity and visibility for actors, and no more so than for women.
For most female actors, jobs dry up as soon as they are perceived to be ‘ageing’ or ‘old’ which, according to a recent report by the Geena Davis Institute, is a much younger age for women than their male counterparts. The report found that earnings per film of female actors increasing until the age of 34 but decrease rapidly thereafter, compared to the average earnings per film for male actors reaching their peak at age 51 and then stabilising.
Moreover, not only are there far fewer roles for over 50s than under, only a fraction of these are for women. Between 2010 and 2020, only 1 in 4 characters of those over 50 in film were women, and in themselves these roles were commonly supporting or minor, and more likely to portray stereotypical traits such as being senile, feeble, or frumpy.
So is it any wonder that ageing is perceived as curse for women in the entertainment industry?
Now you might ask, why does this matter to me? But aside from the fact it employs millions of jobs globally and contributes billions to economies, accurate, authentic representation in tv and film can break down barriers, open us to new ideas, create powerful role models, and even be a source of inspiration.
So Episode 2 of 'Ageism Is Never In Style - The Podcast' explores the entertainment's industry role in fuelling, perpetuating and encouraging ageism in acting.
Together, host Jacynth and special guest, tv, film and stage actress and writer Julie Graham discuss why age representation and parity in acting is so important for all of us, why the 'gatekeepers' aren't commissioning more stories of women in midlife and beyond, and why and how we can - and should - all support and be advocates for actresses who's careers are increasingly waning or disappearing simply because of their age... Along with much more. And, of course, Julie also shares juicy stories and insights from her illustrious career (and how it has evolved) to date!
Why is age representation and inclusivity in acting so important for all of us? How can we support, champion and be advocates for actors - in particular female actors - who's careers increasingly wane or even disappear simply because of their age? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest actress & writer Julie Graham discuss in this teaser of our new episode 'Ageism And... Acting'
Why is authentic age positive representation in the media so important? And how can we understand and reevaluate our own relationship with the media, so that we don't continue to feed its age bias and stereotypes? Host Jacynth Bassett and special guest Caryn Franklin MBE discuss in this teaser of our new episode 'Ageism And... Media'
Media is everywhere. Wittingly or not, it is a huge part of our lives and one of the most dominant and influential forces in our society. So what media we consume, and more specifically the messages, information and narratives it disseminates, is highly instrumental in shaping our own thoughts, perceptions, attitudes, prejudices and biases.
Which is why, of course, when it comes to ageism, it is fundamental that we look at the media. The media has the power to nurture and reinforce existing ageist stereotypes, but equally it can disrupt and drive positive change, presenting evidence and new narratives. So Episode 1 of 'Ageism Is Never In Style - The Podcast' explores the media's role in driving ageism - and our relationship with it.
Hosted by our Founder award-winning 'ageism-fighting trailblazer' Jacynth Bassett, and joined by identity commentator, educator, multi-platform broadcaster and ‘agent of change’, Caryn Franklin MBE, together they discuss how ageism manifests across the media, why we are so receptive to ageist and anti-ageing messages, and ultimately explore and share with listeners how we can all collectively play a role in eradicating ageism and drive positive change.
