Age Discrimination Act of 1975
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 is a significant piece of legislation aimed at preventing age discrimination in federally funded programs. Prior to its enactment, protections against age discrimination were limited primarily to employment situations for individuals over the age of 40, leaving gaps in coverage for younger individuals and in other areas of public life. The Act mandates that any institution receiving federal funding must comply with the provisions of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), ensuring equal access to programs regardless of age. This includes prohibiting age-based discrimination in educational settings, work-study programs, and various federally supported activities.
Signed into law by President Gerald R. Ford, the Act emerged from a broader civil rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s, which advocated for enhanced legal protections across various demographics. While the Act allows for certain exemptions, such as age-related discounts for senior citizens or age restrictions for specific educational programs, it remains a critical advancement in federal civil rights legislation. Notably, it is unique in extending age protection to younger individuals, thereby broadening the scope of federal oversight in combating age discrimination. Overall, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 plays a vital role in promoting equality and inclusivity in federally funded programs across the United States.
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Subject Terms
Age Discrimination Act of 1975
Identification Federal civil rights law
Date Signed on November 28, 1975; became effective on January 1, 1979
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits age discrimination in any program, benefit, or activity that is federally funded such as welfare, health services, education, and rehabilitation services.
Because the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967 protected only workers over forty in employment situations such as hiring, promotion, and firing, and age was not a protected class under civil rights legislation, there was a lack of federal legal protection outside business and for young people during the 1970’s. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 was intended to close these loopholes in an area where the federal government could exert the most control—federally funded programs.
During the 1960’s and 1970’s, civil rights and women’s groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Organization for Women (NOW) lobbied and conducted public marches in order to pressure federal legislators to provide increased national legal protection for women and minorities. The success of these movements inspired other groups to press for legislation, which led to a series of laws, executive orders, and Supreme Court rulings.
Signed by President Gerald R. Ford on November 28, 1975, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 ensured that people of all ages received equal access to federally funded programs: It stipulated that any institution receiving federal funding had to come under the provisions of the ADEA. For example, if a college participated in a federally subsidized tuition loan program, the institution could not discriminate by age in work-study or job-training programs or bar a student from participating in athletic events because of age.
While there were no specific ages stipulated in this statute, it did allow certain exemptions. Discounts, such as reduced prices and fees for senior citizens, were allowed as long as others could participate in the activity at a different price. School districts could limit participation in driver education classes to students of legal driving age. The act did not apply to statutes and ordinances passed by elected bodies, such as a town law that require a minimum age to enroll in public school.
Impact
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 was significant because it became the only piece of federal civil rights legislation that extended age protection to young people. It also broadened the scope of the federal government’s powers to enforce compliance with age discrimination legislation by including any organization that receives federal funding.
Bibliography
Beck, Melinda. “The Gray Nineties.” Newsweek 122, no. 14 (November 4, 1993): 65-67.
Blumenstyk, Goldie. “New York Legislation Bars Forced Retirement at Public Colleges.”Chronicle of Higher Education 36, no. 47 (August 8, 1990): A15.
Greenberger, Robert S. “Justices Limit Use of Age-Bias Laws.” Wall Street Journal 243, no. 38 (February 25, 2004): D2.
Seligman, Dan. “The Case for Age Discrimination.” Forbes 164, no. 14 (January 31, 2000): 20-22.