From The Mashpee Inclusion & Diversity Committee: The Other Side Of Ageism – CapeNews.net

Report on Anti-Youth Ageism and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Defining Anti-Youth Ageism in the Context of Global Goals

Age-based discrimination, or ageism, is a significant barrier to equality that extends beyond its common association with prejudice against older individuals. A critical, yet often overlooked, dimension of this issue is anti-youth ageism, defined as discrimination against individuals under the age of 25. This form of prejudice undermines the core principles of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which calls for the empowerment and inclusion of all, irrespective of age. The lack of comprehensive research into anti-youth ageism indicates a critical gap in addressing all forms of inequality.

Intersectional Discrimination and its Compounding Effect on SDGs

The impact of anti-youth ageism is significantly amplified by intersectionality, where social categories such as race, class, and gender overlap to create compounded systems of discrimination. This phenomenon presents substantial challenges to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals.

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Young women and girls may face dual discrimination based on both their age and gender, creating unique barriers to their empowerment and participation in society.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): When ageism intersects with racism or classism, it deepens existing social and economic disparities, making it more difficult to ensure equal opportunity for all youth.

Manifestations of Ageism and Barriers to Sustainable Development

Anti-youth ageism manifests in interpersonal, cultural, and institutional forms, each posing a direct threat to the well-being and development of young people. These manifestations create specific obstacles to achieving key global targets.

1. Dismissal of Youth Perspectives: The common practice of dismissing the ideas and opinions of young people as invalid due to their age directly contravenes the principles of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), which advocates for responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making. This exclusion prevents their valuable contributions to societal progress.
2. Neglect of Youth Mental Health: Reports from youth indicate that their mental health concerns are frequently dismissed by adults as attempts to seek attention. This neglect is a severe impediment to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

Consequences for Youth Engagement and Future Prospects

The systemic dismissal and neglect experienced by young people have tangible negative consequences that jeopardize their current and future potential, thereby hindering progress on multiple SDGs.

• Impact on Education: The burden of unaddressed mental health issues and the feeling of being devalued can lead to reduced academic engagement among students. This directly undermines the objective of SDG 4 (Quality Education) to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
• Impact on Economic Futures: A diminished inclination to plan for the future, resulting from these negative experiences, poses a long-term threat to achieving SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). It limits the potential of the next generation to contribute to and benefit from sustainable economic development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses mental health, stating that adults often dismiss young people’s mental health problems, which places a significant burden on them.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The text connects the dismissal of youth mental health issues to negative educational outcomes, noting that it results in “students being less inclined to engage academically.”
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The central theme of the article is ageism, a form of discrimination against youths. It explicitly discusses how this inequality is intensified by intersectionality with other forms of discrimination like racism and sexism.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article touches upon the exclusion of youth from meaningful participation by highlighting the “dismissal of youths’ ideas and opinions,” which undermines the principles of inclusive and participatory societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s focus on the dismissal of youth mental health problems directly relates to the need to promote mental health and well-being for this age group.
• Target 4.5: “By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable…” Youths experiencing discrimination and mental health burdens, as described, can be considered a vulnerable group whose academic engagement is threatened, making this target relevant.
• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” The article’s core subject, anti-youth ageism, is a direct barrier to the social inclusion of young people.
• Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” Ageism is a discriminatory practice that the article identifies as creating unequal outcomes for youth, such as academic disengagement.
• Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The common occurrence of dismissing “youths’ ideas and opinions” is a clear example of non-inclusive and non-participatory practices that this target aims to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 3.4: The article implies a need to measure the prevalence of mental health issues among youth. An indicator could be the “percentage of youth reporting mental health problems who receive support or treatment.” The article suggests this percentage is currently low due to dismissal by adults.
• Implied Indicator for Target 4.5: The text links discrimination and mental health to academic disengagement. A relevant indicator would be “rates of academic engagement or school dropout rates among students who report experiencing discrimination or mental health challenges.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 10.2/10.3: The article describes interpersonal ageism as a common occurrence. Progress could be measured by an indicator such as the “proportion of the youth population who reported having personally felt discriminated against on the grounds of their age.”
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.7: The dismissal of youth opinions is a key issue. An implied indicator could be the “proportion of youth who believe their opinions are valued in their communities or academic institutions,” which could be measured through surveys.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: capenews.net