Ashton Applewhite

There’s a global labor shortage. Age-diverse companies enjoy an advantage in the war for talent because they can tap into more human and social capital. Mixed-age teams bring together people with complementary skills, experience, and networks. They’re especially good at complex decision-making. Retaining older employees reduces turnover and safeguards invaluable institutional knowledge, which reduces costs.

Yet ageism in the workplace is rampant. This is particularly ironic in a world of longer lives. It robs millions of the opportunity to earn and save, and costs the global economy trillions. In this talk, Ashton explains how age discrimination disadvantages workers at both ends of the spectrum; explores its roots in toxic narratives that promote intergenerational competition and resentment; explains why old vs. young framing is so tempting—and corrosive; and sets out the many ways organizations and employees can detect and prevent age bias.

From childhood on, we’re barraged by messages that it’s sad to be old. That wrinkles are embarrassing and old people are useless. In this provocative, funny, and deeply informed talk, Ashton explains the roots of ageism—in society and in our own age denial—and how it divides and diminishes us. Ashton sets out the personal and professional consequences (especially for women), shows how ageist myths and stereotypes cripple the way our brains and bodies function, critiques the portrayal of elders as burdens to society, describes what an all-age-friendly world would look like, and concludes with a rousing call to action. It’s time to work together to make discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other prejudice.

What makes aging different for women—and so much harder than it has to be? How does the double impact of ageism and sexism affect women’s health, income, and well-being? And how does competing to “stay young” dig the hole even deeper? In this rousing talk, Ashton Applewhite proposes throwing away the shovel, forging cross-generational compacts, and collaborating on new ways of thinking and behaving. The women’s movement taught us to claim our power; a pro-aging movement will teach us to hold onto it.

Every year an estimated one in ten Americans over age 60—over seven million people— experiences some form of abuse. 95% of cases go undetected. Nonetheless, unlike domestic violence or child abuse, we don’t talk about it much. Raised to value youth and speed, we grossly underestimate the quality of life of older people, as well as its value. We project our fears. We turn away, reluctant to acknowledge that we, too, are aging and some impairment awaits us all. And when we see people as “other” than ourselves, their welfare seems less of a human right.

Activist Ashton Applewhite explains how ageism and ableism (discrimination against older and disabled people, respectively) inform and compound each other, allowing abuse to go unchallenged—the “ugly dance” to which the title refers. This dance reinforces denial and dual stigma. (“I may need help getting around but at least I’m not in a wheelchair!” “I may be disabled, but at least I’m not old.”) It also makes the work of people in Adult Protective Services infinitely tougher, by making their clients seem less worthy of resources and respect, making it harder to protect their civil rights, sanctioning segregation and isolation, and making a good death less likely. Ageism and ableism stand between everyone—especially the most vulnerable among us—and the safe and comfortable old age we all deserve. We have the skills and the tools to disrupt this dance. In a world of longer lives, we can’t afford not to.