The Intersection of Ageism and Racism in a COVID-19 Era, Tiffany Washington

THE INTERSECTION OF AGEISM AND RACISM IN A COVID-19 ERA

Tiffany Washington, PhD, Associate Professor

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored two issues that social workers must address with urgency: ageism and racism.

Ageism represents biased beliefs or attitudes toward an individual or a group of people based on age. As cases of coronavirus in the U.S. first emerged, so did a very concerning narrative that only “old people” were the at-risk group of COVID-19. Indeed, the CDC reports “Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for more serious complications from COVID-19.” 1 We also know that “8 out of 10 deaths reported in the U.S. have been in adults 65 years old and older.” 2 However, the problem was the narrative gave people the impression that just older adults were susceptible to coronavirus. Such a narrative likely influenced the behaviors of younger people who did not see themselves at risk for the disease (i.e., largely influenced by early reports on the fatality rate of the virus in China). The fact that “boomer remover” as a COVID-19 moniker was trending on social media is a reflection of ageist beliefs people hold toward older adults.

But there was also ageist language toward younger adults. For several days, headlining the media were reports of younger adults hanging out on beaches and enjoying their spring breaks totally oblivious to the COVID-19 risks. Indeed, their behaviors went against stay-at-home and social distancing recommendations, and it’s unfortunate that some college students tested positive after going on spring break. 3 However, younger adults were not the only individuals defying those recommendations, and they expressed their frustration against older adults on social media for weeks. 4 Meanwhile, media reports are capitalized on this contention by pitting Millennials against Baby Boomers and vice versa. 5

Further complicating risk-related myths is what scholar and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw referred to as the “fatal intersection of racism and ageism” in a coronavirus era. African Americans and older adults began to represent a disproportionate number of coronavirus cases. 6 Instead of acknowledging the social determinants that relate to health disparities, the narrative shifted once again to older African Americans as the sole at-risk group.

Ageism and racism are injustices. Exposing society’s ageist and racist beliefs is an important call to action for social workers. As a starting point, social workers must examine their own age- and race-related biases, and consider how these biases are barriers to equity in health care. Also, social workers are positioned to shift conversations to focus on the many social determinants (i.e., the social and economic conditions of one’s environment) 7 that exacerbate health-related disparities and injustices. I am currently examining these topics in a qualitative study with health care social workers about their scope of practice during COVID-19. Among the questions asked include their perspectives about observed injustices during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., the potential rationing of healthcare based on age).

Ageism and racism are not new issues. Still, the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the tendency to make assumptions about one’s value based on age or race. Social workers play an important role in facilitating discussions and pursuing policies toward ending these pervasive issues. 

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020,

June 25). People who are at increased risk for severe illness. https://bit.ly/3gw0Gco 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020,

July 30). Older adults and COVID-19. https://bit.ly/39TnBMx 3. O'Kane, C. (2020, March 23). Florida college students test positive for coronavirus after going on spring break.

CBSN. https://cbsn.ws/2DtcQEp 4. Jacobo, J. (2020, March 18). The frustration millennials have with older people not taking coronavirus precautions seriously. ABC News. https://abcn.ws/3gvRpRJ 5. Peterson, A. H. (2020, March 12). How millennials are talking to their boomer relatives about the coronavirus.

BuzzFeed News. https://bit.ly/2XpqjEc 6. Waldstein, D. (2020, April 10). C.D.C. releases early demographic snapshot of worst coronavirus cases. NYT. https://nyti.ms/2DwvSd1 7. HealthyPeople.gov. (2020). Social determinants of health. https://bit.ly/3a1UhDt

Characteristics of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations displayed by race/ethnicity and age. Source: COVID19 — Associate Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) https://bit. ly/2PnUzen