Introduction
The term ageism was first introduced in 1969 by physician, gerontologist, and psychiatrist Robert N. Butler. Butler who served as the first Director of the National Institute of Aging, later published an article on the topic and become known for promoting the rights of older people. He considered ageism a form of bigotry and a serious national problem, which was defined as:
“1) Prejudicial attitudes toward the aged, toward old age, and toward the aging process, including attitudes held by the elderly themselves; 2) discriminatory practices against the elderly, particularly in employment, but in other social roles as well; and 3) institutional practices and policies which, often without malice, perpetuate stereotypic beliefs about the elderly, reduce their opportunities for a satisfactory life and undermine their personal dignity.[1]”
Like other forms of discrimination, these attitudes and practices can have an influence in the institutional practices of libraries, and more specifically, the way we describe archival collections, catalog records, and even donors. This section of our guide will address inclusive language related to ageism by providing examples, alternative terms for use in archival description, and recommendations for further study.
Examples:
According to current studies by several age-focused organizations, affiliated with the umbrella organization Leaders of Aging Organizations (LAO), terms such as seniors, the elderly, the aged, etc. reinforce long standing stereotypes and often reflect the general public’s view that growing older inevitably means decline, isolation, depression, illness, and other physical limitations. These attitudes also perpetuate the view that older adults are the “others.”[2]
Preferred terms for describing individuals who are 65 years and older, include older adult, older persons, older people, older adults, the older population, etc. Another way to describe older adults is to provide a specific age range that takes into account the diversity of the older population.
Recommendations:
In general, the LAO recommends putting the person first, avoiding victimization, or using alternative words and phrases vs. emotional terms (afflicted, suffering, stricken, etc.). Replace terms like senile, which is outdated, with dementia or dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease.[3]
The APA Style Guide offers the following example:
Problematic | Preferred |
Old women | Older women |
Women between the ages of 65-75 | |
Octogenarians |
Based on current studies that suggest the population of older adults represents the fastest growing population, this is a social issue that will continue. Archivists, catalogers, and others involved in descriptive practices should solicit the opinion and preference of donors but strive to avoid stereotypical or outdated language even when older donors use these terms to self-describe .[4]
[1] Butler, R. N. (1969). "Age-ism: Another form of bigotry". The Gerontologist. 9 (4): 243–246. doi:10.1093/geront/9.4_part_1.243. PMID 5366225. S2CID 42442342.
See also Butler, of Journal of Social Issues (1980)
[2] Lundebjerg, N. E., Trucil, D. E., Hammond, E. C., & Applegate, W. B. (2017). “When it comes to older adults, language matters”: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65 (7), 1386–1388. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14941 Accessed 3/4/2022
[3] APA Style and Grammar Guideline, https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/age Accessed 3/9/2022
[4] Ibid.
Are you saying we should not use the outdated terms even if the donor/creator uses them? [PL1]