Apr 22, 2019
Ashton Applewhite is an author, speaker and anti-ageism activist. Rachel discovered her work about three years ago and has been quoting her daily ever since. Ashton got a standing ovation when she did a main stage Ted talk called Let’s End Ageism. She was invited to speak at the UN. She’s recently republished her book This Chair Rocks, A Manifesto Against Ageism.
In this amazing interview we talk about:
- How Ashton never had a life plan or knew what she wanted to be
- Why we worship youth in Anglo-Saxon cultures
- The lack of products and services for older people
- How we often don’t like to identify as being in midlife or older
- How facing the ageing monsters is useful
- How fears about ageing are totally out of proportion to reality
- Our attitudes towards ageing affect how we age
- The U-Curve of Happiness
- How midlife is a time of reckoning
- How ageism starts between our ears
- How we need to be more generous towards each other and ourselves
- When we compete to stay young we reinforce ageism, sexism and the patriarchy
- How raising consciousness about ageing and ageism is key
- Why we should be able to compete for 100% of the seats at any table
- How to stop reinforcing the shame associated with ageing
- Being aware of intersectionality when considering prejudice
- The importance of language relating to age
- Ashton’s knees and not blaming non-age related issues on age
- Continuing the movement
And lots more!
Resources
Ashton's website where you can find out about her appearances, how to set up a conscious raising group and lots of other great stuff.
