By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: Ageism has a considerable impact on the lives of older adults. It is a form of discrimination that manifests in various aspects of life, such as psychological stress, workplace discrimination and societal stereotypes and negative attitudes, where individuals are treated unfavorably due to their age. This destroys elder individuals’ self-esteem and their ability to participate in their communities and maintain their mental health. Kuwait Times spoke to two Lebanese woman in their early 50s — Olivia and Zainab — to learn more about the problems they face.

Olivia said her struggles with finding a job have become harder due to her age. “I applied for a job at a bank I used to work for before the COVID pandemic. However, my application was rejected despite my experience and qualification, and the fact that I used to work there. I have been told straight to my face that I am no longer suitable for the position due to my age. I had to work in another place, which gave me a minor position because they have a preconception, I will not be able to be as active as the job requires due to my age,” she told Kuwait Times.

Discrimination and negativity associated with ageing individuals and their abilities leads them to fear being viewed as a burden to society. This can lead to depression, anxiety and feelings of loneliness and isolation, which significantly impact their quality of life. Concurring with Olivia, Zainab said many workplaces often perceive older adults as less productive and less efficient. This belief leads to employers not hiring older employees or dismissing them. “Sometimes at the workplace, older workers do not get the promotions they might be qualified for, which can be demotivating and impact their financial security in retirement,” said Zainab.

According to her, at some workplaces, elder adults are often viewed as outdated and less valuable, which results in decreased job opportunities, decreased job satisfaction, lower salaries and promotions and increased negative emotions such as stress and anxiety. “Employers often prefer young and fresh talent over older and more experienced ones, assuming they would not fit into the workplace culture. Unfortunately, this creates a disadvantage for older employees who are overlooked despite having the necessary skills and expertise to perform the job,” Zainab added.

Negative attitudes and stereotypes that society holds towards elder adults can have a significant impact on an individual’s psychological well-being, resulting in decreased quality of life, as they may experience social isolation and exclusion from their communities, which can lead to feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and loss of purpose and meaning in life.