The two guest editors of SAGE’s 2023 Supplement to Generations Journal on Structural Ageism are deep thinkers who have turned their attention to the structures in our society that allow ageism to flourish.
Michael Adams has since 2006 been the CEO of SAGE and served on ASA’s Board of Directors for a decade, chairing it from 2020 to 2022. Prior to SAGE Adams was director of Education & Public Affairs for Lambda Legal, and had already spent a decade as an LGBTQ+ rights litigator, at the ACLU and at Lambda Legal.
Having seen in the aging sector how the predominant understanding of ageism has zeroed in on social attitudes, which clearly need to evolve, Adams said, “I believe we have missed an important part of the story by not focusing enough attention on the systems and structures that reinforce ageism.”
Much like systemic racism, the systems and structures are pernicious because on their face they seem neutral, and thus often are not recognized. “I’ve spent considerable time,” said Adams, “working on strategies to shine a spotlight on the structural aspects of ageism, and how we can deconstruct systemic ageism inside our organizations, in our field, and in our society.” […]
Click here to read the full piece. This story was originally published by Generations Today on December 5, 2023.
