AAAS Diversity Librarian
Key Terms
Ageism - The stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age; ageism can take many forms, including prejudicial attitudes, discriminatory practices, or institutional policies and practices that perpetuate stereotypical beliefs. 1
Examples of Bias-Free Language2
The following table illustrates are examples of bias-free language for age. Both problematic and preferred examples are presented with explanatory comment.
| Problematic | Preferred | Explanation |
|
the elderly |
older adults |
The problematic terms perpetuate stereotypes. “Seniors” and “senior citizens” are not uniformly recognized age groups. Be specific about the age groups when possible. |
| Aged 12 years and younger | Aged 13 to 17 years | Aged 18 years and older |
|
Appropriate terms are “infant” (for a very young child), “child,” “girl,” “boy,” “transgender girl,” “transgender boy,” “gender-fluid child,” and so on. |
Appropriate terms are “adolescent,” “young person,” “youth,” “young woman,” “young man,” “female adolescent,” “male adolescent,” “agender adolescent,” and so on. |
Appropriate terms are “adult,” “woman,” “man,” “transgender man,” “trans man,” “transgender woman,” “trans woman,” “genderqueer adult,” “cisgender adult,” and so on. |
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1. "Frequently Asked Questions: Ageism," World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/ageing/features/faq-ageism/en/
2. "Age," American Psychological Association. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/bias-free-language/age