Lived Experiences of Ageism Among Older Adults: Between Shifting Visibility and Strategies of Resistance

This qualitative study explores how older adults (aged 65 and above) experience and perceive ageism in their everyday lives. Drawing on interviews with ten participants analyzed with a manifest content analysis, it highlights how ageism is expressed both subtly, through microinsults and microinvalidations, and overtly, through discrimination in healthcare, social encounters, and societal expectations, often intersecting with gender. The findings reveal a recurring pattern of shifting visibility, where older individuals, particularly women, feel increasingly marginalized post-retirement. Despite these challenges, participants also demonstrated various resistance strategies, asserting autonomy, redefining aging, and challenging stereotypes. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the lived realities of ageism and underscores the importance of empowerment and agency in combating age-based discrimination.