The September 2021 AARP Bulletin shares an article titled, Ageism is Alive and Well in Advertising. Personally, I find the practice of ageism highly annoying, patronizing, and insulting. While there are some ads that are more respectful towards adults over 50, many depict older adults in ridiculous ways such as cartoonish fuddy-duddies or kooks. Some refreshing ads do treat older people with respect by depicting them as mentors, friends, and people who wish to be productive though these depictions are rare.

Cultural attitudes are shaped by these outdated stereotypes and we can challenge these inaccuracies as they are discriminatory. How do we address this? With the power of our wallet…39% of the US population consists of adults over the age of 45. The consumer votes with their spending power and can send a strong message to corporations who choose to view older adults as valuable and vibrant.