This book has tried to confront the difficulties and ambiguities inherent in ageism and age discrimination, and to analyse critically the current British debate in its comparative and long-term historical context. From this perspective, it can be seen that ageism in social relations and attitudes is a relatively recent concept, emerging with a more ‘rights-based’ social and political culture in Western societies. As such, the modern ageism debate can be viewed as a belated and welcome recognition of the indignities suffered by many people merely on account of their age. There is substantial anecdotal evidence that ageism is widespread; although hearsay and experiential, this evidence is so powerful that it cannot be ignored. However, ageism is so closely bound up with strongly internalised and widely accepted notions of ‘age-appropriate’ behaviours and ‘stages’ in the lifecourse that establishing exactly at what point these notions become ‘discriminatory’ is difficult. For example, ageism is not as obvious as racism or sexism. Nevertheless, much still needs to be done to re-educate public opinion to respect the rights of older people. Certainly, if we do not combat ageism we are waging war on our future selves.

However, this more ‘rights-based’ culture has also been associated with the emergence since the 1970s of a new kind of capitalism, and the attendant heightening of competitive individualism. When applied to welfare states, it argues that citizens have an ‘obligation’ to support themselves by waged labour and welfare purchased through the private market.