Is your respect for children actually a form of systemic bias?
In short: We often view our authority over children as a protective necessity. However, scholars argue this power dynamic may be 'adultism'—a systematic prejudice that treats youth as inherently inferior. From school systems to the economy, this bias can stifle development and silence the voices of the next generation.
Adultism is defined as the power adults hold over children, often manifesting as prejudice, systematic discrimination, or a 'social addiction' to adult ideas and attitudes. While it is a subtype of ageism, it specifically targets the exclusion of child-subjectivity. The term has evolved significantly: in the 1840s, it described animals maturing too quickly; by the 1930s in France, it referred to children with adult-like spirits; and by the late 1970s, American scholars began using it to describe the abuse of power by parents, teachers, and even the clergy.
Researchers categorize adultism into three primary expressions. Attitudinal (or internalized) adultism involves personal beliefs that children are less capable. Cultural adultism refers to shared customs that assume adult superiority based solely on age, often using euphemisms like 'better judgment.' Structural adultism is the most systemic, involving the normalization of laws, policies, and organizational structures that advantage adults while producing chronic adverse outcomes for young people. This can lead to 'adultarchy,' where the social inequality mirrors the dynamics of racism or sexism.
The impacts of these biases are profound. Internalized adultism can cause youth to doubt their own legitimacy and create a 'culture of silence.' For example, a 2006/2007 survey found that 43% of British youth reported experiencing age-based discrimination, a rate significantly higher than that of sex or race. Furthermore, some theorists suggest adultism stems from adults repressing their own 'inner child,' leading to excessive nurturing or control that ultimately hinders a child's ability to form positive relationships and self-esteem.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Adultism
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