ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that a genuine commitment to anti-ageist practice must be premised on an understanding of ageism within the framework of: the broader context of cultural and structural factors; and the inter-relationship of ageism and other forms of oppression such as sexism and racism. Ageism as a cause for social and political concern has yet to approach the extent and intensity of concern generated by the more firmly established social problems of racial and sexual oppression. The chapter addresses the question of whether the increasing attention given to issues of age and ageism reflects a genuine commitment to anti-ageism or, more superficially, simply a fad or fashion. The basic answer proposed is that, for anti-ageism to be more than a token nod in the direction of anti-discriminatory practice, understanding must run much more deeply than the level of personal values and individual concerns—it must also take account of wider cultural and structural issues.
