[SilverPhoenyx]

Name: Phoenyx
Age: 36
Gender: Female
Occupation: Student
Ethnic Background: Cherokee


1) Have you or has someone you know ever experience a situation where you’ve felt people were treating you in unjust ways due to obvious generalizations made to your age? When did this happen? How did it happen? Explain.

I am always seen as too old or too young for one thing or another. Even on sites like this, "older" people are considered creepy or without a life if they are on them. My husband is 21 and I look to be the same age, so people don't judge us unless they know there is a 15 year difference, then they get really uncomfortable. I was born in a generation that seems to be between generations where things actually happened.. so growing up, I was always too young or too old. Even now, being in college, and pursuing my master's degree, many of the people in my classes are either much older or younger than I am.

2) (If yes) In response to that, how did it effect you personally? How did it effect your family? As a result, did you lose or leave your job? (Was there only a financial struggle that you had to overcome?) Did you feel that there was any long-term effects that followed socially or even psychologically?

I have actually been hired as a manager inn a company before where I was younger than people who had been working there for years. I had to work twice as hard to garner respect and prove myself because of my age.

3) (If yes) How did you cope with it?

Prayer and hard work.

4) Do you believe that the positive aspects of age apply for seniors in the work place are enough to outweigh their more negatively perceived generalizations? Explain.

I believe age should not be a factor; but, experience, talent, and knowledge should.

5) Do you believe that certain dangers are prone to derive from ageist stereotypes? What kind of dangers do you think those would be? Would they be psychological, or would they seem more socially inclined? (For Example: less pay, dismissal, abuse, disrespect, etc.)

Age should not be a factor.

6) Scenario: If you were an employer looking to hire a mature, sophisticated worker to fill a managing position at a retail store, would you consider passing by a seemingly reliable, loyal, experienced senior applicant with a better work ethic to a younger, more long-lasting individual? Would you do this to maintain lateral advancements in the workplace? Would you risk a senior employee being short-lived to younger employees? Explain.

I believe we have a great deal to learn from our ancestors. I would hire the more experienced person.

7) How difficult do you believe it is to claim ageism as a reason for dismissing one from their job?Is it something you once feared at your workplace?

People should not be forced to retire. I believe that as long as an individual is able to keep up with the workplace needs, they should be allowed to stay in employment for as long as they desire. benefits should be dispersed based upon experience and job requirements. For example, someone who works an assembly line should make more money than someone who answers phones.

8) Vincent J. Roscigno, a Professor of Sociology at Ohio State University, believes that "age discrimination is an equal opportunity form of inequality". Do you also believe that to be so? Do you think Ageism is something far more prevalent than other forms of discrimination? Explain.

All forms of discrimination are prevalent and wrong.

9) “The point of putting a label on a human life, is reduce it from a story to a condition. Something predictable, something that won't ever change, something that isn't free to choose its own future." — Edward Mendelson Do you agree with this view? Why or why not?

I am a person, not a label. If more people lived that way, life would be so much better. Adding labels dehumanizes a person and lends to prejudice, discrimination, and annihilation.

10) Is Ageism ultimately a result of government precepts or does the real answer lie within human incapability to see beyond biological contemplation?

People want things instantly. If we could get past this microwave world view, maybe people would see that we have a great deal to learn from those who have lived in this world longer than we have. Their experience is valuable.

11) Should stereotypes, in involvement with prejudice, be discouraged at the risk of health impairment?

Stereotypes should be avoided for all reasons.

12) Should children or young adults be advocated for when faced with prejudice of their age? Explain.

Yes, Someone needs to speak for the children, the disabled, and the elderly.