Knowledge@Wharton September 3, 2024
“Youngism,” or prejudice against young adults, is more prevalent than we think, according to new research.
Public discussions about ageism often focus on prejudice against older adults, with common stereotypes depicting them as slow, grumpy, and forgetful. However, recent research led by Wharton visiting scholar Stéphane Francioli reveals that the most negative views in society are actually directed toward young adults — a form of reverse ageism known as “youngism.”
In two large surveys of U.S. adults, Francioli, alongside co-authors Angela Shaker and Michael North, found that people hold more positive views of older adults than of younger ones, challenging the common belief that more mature people bear the brunt of age-related prejudice. The degree of bias against the young...
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