In recent decades, Western society has made enormous strides in addressing injustices tied to race and gender. Institutional barriers have fallen, public opinion has shifted, laws have been enacted, and workplaces and media have faced increased scrutiny. While racism and sexism still exist in varying degrees, it is fair to say that they no longer enjoy the cultural legitimacy they once did. Yet in this narrow focus, another prejudice has quietly been allowed to thrive: ageism.
Ageism is discrimination based on a person’s age, most often leveled against the elderly. It has long gone unnoticed or largely unchallenged, not because it is less destructive, but because its victims are often less visible or less empowered to respond. Unlike the young, the elderly have fewer channels for cultural influence. Unlike other protected groups, they often walk into marginalization as soon as they can no longer produce economic value. This issue is not just cultural, but deeply systemic.
The Statistics on Ageism: Worse Than You Think
The numbers on ageism reveal a silent crisis. According to AARP, nearly two thirds of workers age 50 and older have either seen or personally experienced age discrimination in the workplace. In a 2024 survey, they reported:
“And AARP research consistently shows that 64 percent of workers age 50 plus have reported seeing or experiencing age discrimination in the workplace.”
Source: AARP press release
This is not a fringe issue affecting a small minority. It is the overwhelming norm. Yet unlike other forms of discrimination, there is often a lack of public outcry because ageism is rationalized as just part of life.
This reality is confirmed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In a report titled “The State of Age Discrimination and Older Workers in the U.S.”, the EEOC notes:
“More than 6 in 10 workers age 45 and older say they have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace.”
Despite that alarming rate, only 3 percent of workers report having ever made a formal complaint.
The tech industry makes this problem stark. Youth is often equated with innovation, and experienced engineers are subtly or directly encouraged out. Seasoned developers are described as stale, rigid, or out of touch, while the lived experience and architectural wisdom they carry is treated like legacy code. Not valuable, but replaceable.
While progress has been made in hiring women and minorities in tech, many organizations still proudly declare their average employee age as under 30, unaware that they are reinforcing a culture of disposability. Unlike racism and sexism, age bias is often justified by the language of efficiency.
What Scripture and Catholicism Say About Ageism
The fight against ageism begins with one of the Ten Commandments:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.”
Exodus 20:12
In its Catholic interpretation, this commandment extends beyond biological parents to include every person entrusted with care, wisdom, and authority in the community. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that this honor applies not only in youth or while parents are living, but also in recognizing the dignity, experience, and sacrifices made by previous generations. To neglect the elderly is not just a social failure. It is a spiritual failure. It is a breaking of the divine moral order.
This logic is deepened in the Old Testament law:
“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God.”
Leviticus 19:32
In this passage, reverence for the elderly is directly tied to reverence for God. The moral line is clear: to disregard the elderly is to disregard the One who made them.
Scripture consistently associates age with wisdom.
“Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is gained in a righteous life.”
Proverbs 16:31
“Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
Job 12:12
These scriptures form the backbone of a biblical worldview in which the elderly are repositories of experience and insight, and the community suffers when their voices are quieted.
Catholic social teaching stands firmly against age based discrimination. The Church reminds us that the elderly are not passive members of the Body of Christ. Even when they can no longer work or contribute economically, they provide wisdom, testimony, prayer, and a living memory of faith.
Fighting Ageism: Reversing the Decline
Age based bias is not a neutral fact of life, but a sin. It is a failure to honor the image of God in the elderly. Societally, we need to stop seeing people’s value only in terms of economic output and cost. Individually, we need to see the elderly as sources of counsel, living archives of wisdom, and guides who have weathered storms we have not yet seen.
In industries like technology, we must build age diverse teams in which experience is seen as a strength, not a liability. We should invite the wisdom of senior engineers into architectural leadership, mentorship roles, and intergenerational collaboration. The most innovative companies do not just churn talent. They harness tradition.
In our faith communities, we should create opportunities for intergenerational encounter. Bring together the zeal of the young and the wisdom of the old. Honor those who have loved, suffered, worked, and prayed before us.
A just society is one that has room for all, especially for those who have given it so much. Ageism is not only an act of prejudice. It is an act of ingratitude. When we silence the elderly, we impoverish ourselves.
LongLoft - Code Writer 