No doubt if you glance at the newspapers today, switch on the television or the radio, go shopping or have reason to visit the website of your local council, you will find articles, adverts, or messages relating to the scourge of racism, prejudice and bigotry in general society.
Activists spout forth discourse insisting that racism, prejudice and bigotry are rife in society and that this institutional, structural form of hate must be stamped out. The discourse used mostly is of a hectoring and lecturing tone, even to the point of being a harassing narrative and has all of the characteristics of being a fervent, emotional and obsessive crusade.
In schools up and down the land, teachers "educate" their pupils as to the nature of these dreadful and heinous crimes. A chance remark that may be completely innocent or may have been misinterpreted can see you suffer cancellation, sacking, exclusion and financial consequences. There are also instances where remarks have been taken out of context and weaponised for nefarious means against the sponsor of the offending discourse.
Politicians, panellists on television shows, the list is not exhaustive, all compete with each other to denounce remarks or perceived remarks that feminists, ‘people of colour’, Muslims, again the list is not exhaustive, may find offensive and espouse more must be done to tackle such bigotry.
In most European countries it is illegal to discriminate or use language that discriminates on a wide range of protected characteristics. The protected characteristics being those of age, race, gender, religion, sexuality. In the UK, the Equalities Act 2010 provides a form of legal protection against discrimination. It is argued however that not all protected characteristics are equal with some being more equal than others.
In 2025 there is one form of public abuse and hate that it appears is perfectly acceptable, with very little sanction for those who indulge in a little bit, or a lot, of hate. What is it? Age discrimination.
It is a fact that it is illegal in many European countries to ask you on a job application about your race and religion. It is also illegal to ask you how old you are, but it does not stop many companies asking for your date of birth on an application and, in the case of online applications, it is often necessary to put a date of birth in order to proceed.
Let that sink in for a moment. Imagine being asked on an application ‘are you a Muslim or are you a black?’. Asking for your date of birth or age is exactly the same, but few see it that way. Age discrimination is rife in society and not more so than in the labour market. I have a friend who has kept a diary since being pushed out of their last job, for no real reason other than age. The training courses ceased, my friend was removed from positions of responsibility for no real reason, remarks were made about needing new blood. Harassment increased, and so my friend ended up at a job centre.
The employment advisor was a Hindu. The employment advisor told my friend, let’s call him Nigel, "you are at a difficult age" Imagine if Nigel was the employment advisor had said to the Hindu applicant had the tables been turned "being a Hindu is difficult in terms of your employment prospects". Nigel requested that the employment advisor explain what was meant by the term "difficult age". The employment advisor replied: " well you have not got long until you retire, and employers do not feel comfortable taking on older workers".
Nigel informed the employment advisor that it is no longer necessary to retire at a particular age and one can work for as long as they feel able, capable and are competent to do so. The employment advisor replied in a very patronising fashion "bless". Again, imagine the employment advisor stating if you are black " employers do not feel comfortable taking on black people". The employment service was of no use at all. Nigel informed me that they were as much use as a shopping bag full of wind.
Nigel, who has a post graduate education in the sciences and maths, saw an advert for teachers. There is a shortage of physics teachers, and an application was made to a school. Nigel left the dates of birth off of the application form. However, in order to attend the interview at the school, he was required to have security clearance. Part of the clearance was to give a date of birth. In any event, at all times during the school visit, at no point was Nigel left alone without a chaperone. Nigel keeps an employment diary and here is the entry recounting the day of the interview at the school.
" I entered the room. Immediately on entering I saw two women behind a desk. I was gestured to a seat by one of the women during which time the other women gave me the filthiest look possible The look was like that you may be inclined to give if your husband or your son has missed the pan and hit the seat. I thought to myself I could have spent the train fare on groceries. The women went through my qualifications and experience. I had prepared well for the interview. I was asked some questions about how I would approach certain problems in terms of developmental maturities.
“I was asked to state how I would engage with children who were reluctant to read and were behind with their reading skills. I gave a number of answers and referred to some research. The woman who had given me the filthy look on entering the room spoke: "you have the most interesting and innovate ideas in terms of how to combat undevelopment in children concerning their reading skills. I am fascinated. I am going to take your ideas to the next school all staff meeting".
“The woman then went on "I do hope that one day you find a job in teaching as you really are suited to this work and are admirably qualified".
Nigel received a rejection email the next day and, using the Subject Access laws, requested a copy of the interview notes. The notes took some weeks to arrive but when they did, they were for the most part illegible. The handwriting was so bad it could not be deciphered, which is quite shocking given that these were senior teachers. Nigel then noticed a remark at the bottom of the page that could be read. Written by the teacher who had given my friend the filthy look as my friend entered the interview room it read: " I have concerns possible risk to children".
Dear readers I would like you to consider this for one moment. Imagine if you will if the applicant had been a Pakistani man and the teacher had written " I have concerns possible risk to children".
Nigel made a complaint to the then Minister of Education concerning the abusive remarks but never got a reply. Since then, he has applied for a variety of jobs and has been told by a worker to "go home grandpa". "I do not think you will be open to new ideas". " We are a young team and you will not fit in ". " You are likely to be boring". In all during the last three months Nigel has applied for 40 jobs. He is not fussy what work he gets. All of the effort to date has been worthless.
But you know Readers, age discrimination is not just limited to the work place. At the fitness centre I was once told by a young black man, who I did not know, to go easy. Although I soon dispatched him, his remarks were quite uncalled for. Imagine if I had said ‘why don’t you have a banana’. I pretended that I had seen him before to which he enquired where. I said "you work in Tesco". He was very upset at my suggestion and kept repeating that I was wrong and that he did not work in Tesco. I suggested to him, well it is a job and be proud of the fact you work. He never got over the Tesco suggestion.
I volunteered to help Ukrainians learn English. I remember meeting with the volunteer coordinator who informed me, when I went to offer my services for free, "I am 26". I am not sure why the volunteer coordinator told me that they were 26, but I did not get offered the chance to volunteer.
A glance at the press on any given day and there are articles about "boomers" or older people not being that well educated and older people being a burden on the state. If they are such a burden on the state, then instead of age discrimination, try offering them a job instead.
I have came to the conclusion that age discrimination , although illegal in exactly the same way as colour discrimination, is not seen as equal with other forms of discrimination. It does appear to be perfectly acceptable to abuse, harass, ridicule, exclude and insult people in regards their age or perceived age in a way that would be unthinkable if the discrimination were related to colour.
I have therefore come to the conclusion that "Age Discrimination" is the last acceptable form of prejudice and discrimination in society. The thing that I find really puzzling is that many in society either do not want to or accept it hurts just as much as race discrimination does. Also, those who indulge in age discrimination will without doubt, unless they die first, get old themselves. Well, they do say karma is a bitch.