Our population is aging. Birthday celebrations for those reaching their 80s, 90s and even beyond are now commonplace. But ageism targeting these adults — and even those decades younger — remains persistent.
The next session of the popular Policy Pub public forum series presented by the Florida State University College of Social Sciences and Public Policy will tackle the problem of ageism, a type of discrimination that continues to exist even as the population grows older.
Anne Barrett, FSU professor of sociology and director of the Pepper Institute on Aging and Public Policy, will present “Ageism in an Aging Society: Why It Persists, Why We Should Care.” After the brief talk, the public will have the opportunity to ask questions and talk about the night’s topic.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at Backwoods Bistro, 401 E. Tennessee St.
In her presentation, Barrett will discuss the issue and its implications for individuals in all life stages in our aging society.
Barrett is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Her research covers a wide range of aging issues, including gender and aging, subjective aging, ageism and cultural constructions of later life. As director of the Pepper Institute, she oversees the hub for multidisciplinary research on aging at Florida State University, bringing together faculty and students from a range of disciplines such as political science, sociology, public health, medicine and psychology for research in four areas — pathways to later life, aging and health disparities, communities and transportation and aging and health policy.
Now in its second year, Policy Pub is a recurring series of brief, plain-language talks by faculty of the college on public policy issues that affect everyone, followed by questions and discussion from the public.
Policy Pubs take place in a relaxed atmosphere at Backwoods Bistro, located at the corner of Tennessee and Gadsden streets. Guests can enjoy food and drink from the menu while listening to and talking about the evening’s topic.
The public is encouraged to arrive early to secure a parking spot in the restaurant’s lot or surrounding streets.
Policy Pub is the brainchild of Professor of Sociology Deana Rohlinger, who was inspired by the popular Science Cafés presented by the FSU National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
For more information about the Policy Pub series, visit coss.fsu.edu or call (850) 644-6284.