From the minute we're born, we're judged according to how old we are.

從我們出生的那一刻起，我們就被按照年齡來評判。

And this can lead us to being treated unfairly because of our age.

這可能會導致我們因為年齡而受到不公平的待遇。

This is ageism.

這是年齡歧視。

It's the most widespread form of discrimination in the UK, and it will impact us all at some point, particularly as we get older.

這是英國最普遍的歧視形式，我們每個人都會在某些時候受到影響，尤其是隨著年齡的增長。

Ageism affects how society sees older people.

老齡歧視影響著社會對老年人的看法。

They're often reduced to offensive stereotypes, patronised or treated as a burden.

他們往往被貶低為令人反感的刻板形象，被輕視或被視為負擔。

And it even affects how we see ourselves.

它甚至會影響我們如何看待自己。

As the years progress, we start to believe what we read, see and hear and come to think that we're past it.

隨著歲月的流逝，我們開始相信自己讀到、看到和聽到的一切，並認為自己已經過去了。

Sometimes it's obvious.

有時很明顯。

Sometimes it's more hidden.

有時更隱蔽。

But ageism is everywhere.

但是，年齡歧視無處不在。

The media focuses on frailty and decline and fixates on older people falling prey to things like scams.

媒體關注的焦點是虛弱和衰退，並專注於老年人上當受騙等問題。

Journalists can also wrongly portray people in later life as rich baby boomers, despite millions of older people living in poverty.

儘管有數百萬老年人生活貧困，但記者也可能錯誤地將晚年人描繪成富有的嬰兒潮一代。

And this false generalisation can give the impression that older people are less worthy of support.

而這種錯誤的概括會給人留下老年人不值得支持的印象。

Advertising sells us promises of how to defy the ageing process rather than embrace it.

廣告向我們兜售如何戰勝衰老的承諾，而不是擁抱衰老。

When we do see older people in adverts, it's usually to sell products linked to death and decline, like funeral plans.

當我們在廣告中看到老年人時，通常是為了推銷與死亡和衰退有關的產品，比如葬禮計劃。

Across every sector and in every corner of society, we're met with negative attitudes towards getting older.

在社會的各個領域和各個角落，我們都會遇到對變老的消極態度。

Age discrimination isn't just unfair, it's illegal.

年齡歧視不僅不公平，而且是違法的。

Yet ageism is part of everyday life.

然而，年齡歧視是日常生活的一部分。

In the workplace, older employees are often treated as less able, routinely held back from training opportunities or feel shut out of the jobs market entirely.

在工作場所，年齡較大的員工往往被視為能力較差，經常得不到培訓機會，或者覺得自己被完全排除在就業市場之外。

And it can also affect access to healthcare.

它還會影響醫療服務的獲取。

Studies show that older people are often not consulted about their care preferences and can be discouraged or even restricted in accessing the treatment they need.

研究表明，老年人往往沒有被徵求過關於其護理偏好的意見，在獲得所需的治療方面可能會受到阻礙甚至限制。

But the bleak stories we're told and sold about getting older do not reflect reality.

但是，我們被告知和推銷的關於變老的悲慘故事並不反映現實。

In fact, life satisfaction is at its highest in later life.

事實上，晚年生活的滿意度是最高的。

And most of us don't actually think older people benefit at the expense of younger people.

實際上，我們中的大多數人並不認為老年人的利益是以年輕人的利益為代價的。

The majority of us recognise that older adults have plenty to contribute to society.

我們大多數人都認識到，老年人可以為社會做出很多貢獻。

Four in five of us believe that we could all benefit from the wealth of experience that older adults have.

五分之四的人認為，我們都可以從老年人的豐富經驗中受益。

It's clear that age is not the problem, ageism is.

很明顯，年齡不是問題，年齡歧視才是問題。

To find out more and help end ageism, visit aging-better.org.uk forward slash ageism.

欲瞭解更多資訊並幫助消除年齡歧視，請訪問 aging-better.org.uk forward slash ageism。