Freechild Institute
Discover a grim reality facing all children and youth today called adultism. Do you feel like society treats young people poorly? Does youth empowerment appeal to you? In Facing Adultism, renowned educator Adam Fletcher talks straight about discrimination against young people, and pulls no punches as he lays out the realities of adultism today. Originally […]
Cultural adultism is a very ambiguous, yet very prevalent, form of discrimination and intolerance towards youth. Any restriction or exploitation of people because of their young age, as opposed to their ability, comprehension, or capacity, may be said to be adultist. These restrictions are often attributed to “better judgment”, the “wisdom of age”, or other popular age-related euphemism […]
Internalized adultism is the deeply personal attitude of children, youth and adults that is biased towards adults. In his booklet called, Adults as Allies, [PDF] Barry Checkoway of the University of Michigan School of Social Work writes that internalized adultism causes youth to “question their own legitimacy, doubt their ability to make a difference…” and perpetuate […]
Definition of Adultism There are three parts to the complete definition of adultism, from Adam Fletcher’s book Facing Adultism: Adultism is favoring adults by dismissing young people. It is also the addiction to the attitudes, ideas, beliefs, and actions of adults. Because adultism is bias towards adults, it inherently and obviously leads to discrimination against children and youth. […]
Many well-meaning adults who advocate for youth engagement too often consider only those elements of the younger population with which they are familiar. This is comfortable and convenient for adults, but it doesn’t fully address realities regarding young people today. Identifying aspects of youth engagement as convenient or inconvenient doesn’t convey a value judgment; it […]