Noni Hazlehurst has had one of the longest \u2013 and most celebrated \u2013 careers in Australian media.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
But as Noni has gotten older she\u2019s noticed a marked difference in the types of acting roles she now gets offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you’re in your sort of 20s and 30s, and even early 40s, you get a full character description and it’s more likely to be a leading character,\u201d the 68-year-old says in the latest episode of What Does Australia Really Think About\u2026<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cBut now that I’m in my 60s, I get offered roles anything up to sort of 80-year-olds, and they tend to just be a very brief character description of mum, typical mum, typical grandma.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research shows that old age bias is more prevalent than both racism and sexism, with the issue explored on the SBS show in a bold covert filming exercise.<\/p>\n
Two actors play the roles of a young barista and 57-year-old woman seeking work, with a verbal tussle between the pair playing out in a cafe with real patrons.<\/p>\n
The woman approaches the barista at the counter to apply for an advertised job, only to be dismissed over her age.<\/p>\n
\u201cI noticed you\u2019ve got an ad in the window for a barista, I\u2019d like to apply,\u201d the woman says.<\/p>\n
In response the barista laughs, asking if she wanted to apply for her kids and how old she was.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a bit of a young, fresh vibe, it\u2019s a busy cafe strip so we need to keep that young culture,\u201d the barista argues, also adding that \u201cold people are a bit slow, they have trouble moving around\u201d.<\/p>\n
The scenario between the actors played out multiple times, with some patrons simply paying at the till and walking off despite the discriminatory exchange.<\/p>\n
But several intervened, with one older man interrupting as the barista told the woman older people were \u201cslow\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI run my own business and I\u2019m good, I\u2019m the best in the business OK? And I\u2019m 67,\u201d the man told the barista. \u201cYou can\u2019t be ageist mate, it\u2019s against the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another younger man also interjected to point out that the barista\u2019s behaviour was discriminatory after overhearing him complain the woman was a \u201cbit frail\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s discrimination from your end there,\u201d the male patron said. \u201cBecause everyone is entitled to equal opportunity regardless of age, sex or gender.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to a study conducted by the show, 36 per cent of respondents over 40 said they felt invisible in society.<\/p>\n
51 per cent of those survey believe age discrimination is common despite the fact that 85 per cent of those same people said ageism shouldn\u2019t be tolerated in the workplace.<\/p>\n
Watch What Does Australia Really Think About\u2026 at 8.30pm Tuesday on SBS or SBS On Demand<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"