[New York Diary] When Is a Woman's Prime?... Age Controversy in the US

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] One of the personal advantages since coming to New York, USA, is that no one asks my age. Locals, who find it difficult to even guess the age of East Asians, often estimate my age to be much younger than it actually is, giving me small moments of amusement.

In the United States, asking someone's age when not close is generally considered rude. This is deeply rooted in the belief that discrimination based on age, like race, religion, or gender, should not be tolerated. However, this does not mean that ageism, or age-based discrimination, does not exist. In fact, it is so widespread in the US that it can be considered a more sensitive issue. Especially this year, with the first-ever president in his 80s, controversies surrounding age have frequently made headlines.

Last week, Nikki Haley, a Republican and former UN Ambassador who declared her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, publicly addressed the age issue by stating, "Politicians over 75 years old should be required to undergo mental capacity tests." Although she did not mention any specific names, it was a statement that naturally brought to mind President Joe Biden, who is 80 this year, and former President Donald Trump, who is 76.

Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Is requiring mental capacity tests for elderly politicians a form of age discrimination? Every slip of the tongue by President Biden, such as calling the ASEAN summit host country Cambodia "Colombia," is always accompanied by an age label. The reason he quietly passed his 80th birthday last month and publicly released health check results showing no issues with his duties is because he knows age is the biggest obstacle to his re-election bid.

However, the demand for mental capacity tests is based on the premise that age can affect the ability to perform certain tasks. This is why it cannot be simply labeled as age discrimination. Daniel Chaw, a longtime Democrat supporter from New York, said, "Age is just a number; what matters is how well one performs the job," but added, "Honestly, I wish President Biden were about 20 years younger. Considering the possibility of re-election, I do worry about both his physical health and cognitive abilities."

On the other hand, there is a counterargument that today's 80s are different from those in the past. Accordingly, it is argued that factors such as education level, communication skills, job performance, and health management should be considered rather than age. According to The Washington Post (WP), in the 1980s, only 2.5% of people in their 80s were working, but by 2019, this had more than doubled to 6%. Also, currently, 35% of the US population is aged 50 or older. According to Business Insider, 23% of US Congress members are in their 70s. The average age of members across both the House and Senate was 61.5 years.

In the US, as the 2024 presidential election approaches, the ongoing age controversy was openly fueled by the influential broadcaster CNN. On the 16th, Don Lemon, a 56-year-old anchor of the flagship morning news, criticized Haley's call for mental capacity tests and mocked, "Sorry, but Haley (in her 50s) is not in her prime either. Women are considered to be in their 20s, 30s, or 40s." Co-anchor Poppy Harlow immediately questioned if he meant "fertile age," but Lemon replied, "I'm just stating facts. Look it up on Google."

CNN flagship morning news anchors Don Lemon (center), Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The public reaction was intense. Even after Lemon issued an apology statement shortly afterward, the controversy has not easily subsided. This is because it touched on one of the most sensitive issues in the US: discrimination. There were also many criticisms pointing out the contradiction of a Black anchor, who has publicly opposed racial discrimination, making another discriminatory remark.

I also followed Lemon's "instruction" and searched on Google: "When is a woman's prime?" In fact, even Google cannot provide a clear answer because the response varies depending on the criteria for "prime."

One thing is clear. As Lemon expressed in his apology under pressure, no one's age can define their career or, more broadly, their humanity.