Eliza K. Pavalko, Department of Sociology, Indiana University Presented by: Maximiliane Szinovacz, UMASS Boston Attitudes of Older Workers: Perceptions of Workplace Discrimination Among Older Workers

Figure 1. Women’s Perceived Age Discrimination at Work, by Age National Longitudinal Surveys of Mature and Young Women Source: Gee, Pavalko and Long, “Age, Cohort and Perceived Age Discrimiantion: Using the Life Course to Assess Self-reported Age Discrimination.” Social Forces 80:

Figure 2. Men’s and Women’s Perceived Age Discrimination at Work, by Age in 2006 Source: General Social Survey, 2006

Perceived Discrimination at Work, by Gender and Type, Ages Source: General Social Survey, 2006

Who’s Most Likely to Report Age Discrimination? Younger and older adults Among women (from Gee, Pavalko and Long, 2007): White women are more likely to report age discrimination than black women Women with more education are more likely to report discrimination No significant variation across occupational type

Are More Recent Cohorts of Women More Sensitized to Discrimination? Source: Gee, Pavalko and Long, “Age, Cohort and Perceived Age Discrimiantion: Using the Life Course to Assess Self-reported Age Discrimination.” Social Forces 80:

Does Perceived Age Discrimination Contribute to other Problems? YES! Those reporting age discrimination have greater psychological distress and lower levels of well-being (Yuan 2007) All forms of perceived discrimination associated with greater increases in mental and physical health problems over five year period, even after controlling for prior health (Pavalko, Mossakowski and Hamilton, 2003). Among men, those reporting age discrimination are more likely to subsequently leave their job (Johnson and Neumark 1997)

What Do We Still Need to Know About Age Discrimination? Need more data following workers over time Reciprocal relationships between poor health, job turnover and perceived discrimination When do people perceive unequal treatment as discrimination? When do they not perceive it as unfair or discriminatory?