A multi-gen family walking through a field of daffodil flowers in Hexham, Northumberland. They are searching for eggs on an Easter egg hunt, they are holding their baskets to collect the eggs.
In January, I virtually attended a two-day summit put on by the Stanford Center on Longevity. Focusing on “Ageism and the Intergenerational Future,” it was an impressive gathering of many well-known writers and researchers, so I have lots of resources to share. I’ve tried to capture some of the highlights below.
The first group of panelists, who included Leanne Shirley, the President of the American Society on Aging and Ashton Applewhite, author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, addressed ageism in our culture and how we might reduce it. All agreed that we are making progress toward reducing ageism and suggested these ways to do more: get more specific about changes we want to see, model an age-inclusive society, get research on ageism out to people, and include the private sector more. On a personal level, we can be more aware of the internalized ageism we experience, cultivate intergenerational friends, and challenge ageist comments we encounter.
Another fascinating panel, “Comfortable in Our Own Skin: Can the Beauty Industry Lead the Way?”showed how the beauty industry is moving its focus from anti-aging to pro-aging. The moderator, Michael Clinton, author and founder of ROAR Forward, showed what an economic power this industry is both in spending and employment. Representatives from Estee Lauder described their new ad campaign “Because of My Age..” ,which features highly accomplished 50+ women. The focus is on the pro-aging message, not a product. Dove, Donna Karan, and QVC have come out with similar campaigns.
The main highlight for me was the Fireside Chat with author Anne Lamott, who was her usual humorous, witty, authentic, and sometimes irreverent self. Dr. Laura Carstensen, Founder of the Stanford Center on Longevity, asked Anne to share her thoughts on aging. Anne called it a “mixed grill”, starting with her hip that was complaining and her stamina that had declined along with her coterie of doctors, headed by a physical therapist whom she called her “fiance.” She also likes the realization as she ages of how much she’s no longer in charge of, such as the driver getting her to this campus location. She doesn’t have time to listen to that inner critic that keeps us small,” and loves the freedom of just saying, “I don’t know.” She also said of age – “there’s an endless forgetting, but I’m remembering so much.” I’m looking forward to her new book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love.
Other panels focused on ageism in modern media, film and TV, healthcare, music and the arts, business and around the globe. The last panel ended with a call for a new focus on reducing age segregation and creating a multi-generational society, where people of all ages meet naturally and do things together. I’ll be writing more about this exciting idea next time.