Ageism Today: We Have Come a Long Way but Have a Long Way to Go

Ageism is not new and is no less present today than it was back in 1953 when the issue was first recognized by Tuckman and Lorge1 who noted that “In our culture with its emphasis on youth and speed, old people are expected to play a decreasingly active role in our social and industrial life. These cultural expectations encourage the formation of misconceptions and stereotypes about old age.” The actual term “ageism” was delineated in 1969 by Robert Butler2 and noted to be prejudice among age groups and a fear of aging.