People have branded an ad aimed at people aged 50 and over as “ageist” and “out of touch” by featuring gray-haired figures who look 80 years old.
An ad shared on
While a $1,000 prize is offered for writers of speculative fiction, which includes science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and magical realism, it was the caricature of an elderly couple that caught people’s attention.
The poster showed a man and a woman with gray hair and facial wrinkles, while the man appeared to be using a cane.
The ad did not go down well with commenters who criticized it for perpetuating “ageist stereotypes”, while one person asked “who approved this?”
A pamphlet shared by the Illinois writers’ organization, the Speculative Literature Foundation (SLF), has been criticized for being discriminatory and “out of touch.”
The poster, aimed at people aged 50 and older, showed a man and a woman with gray hair and facial wrinkles.
The SLF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literary quality in speculative fiction, shared the post on April 26 with the intention of seeking grant candidates.
The ad asked for a cover letter of between 500 and 1,000 words as part of the application process, as well as a writing sample of up to 10 pages.
Other criteria stated that candidates had to be “early professional writers working in speculative literature.”
Listed a speculative writing sample of up to 10 pages of poetry or drama, or 5,000 words of fiction or creative fiction.
The grant is worth around $1,000 and the deadline for all entries has been set for May 31, 2024.
However, critics of X have criticized the SLF for its depiction of those in the target age group.
‘Terrible ad that perpetuates useless and discriminatory stereotypes. Who signed this? one person wrote.
A second agreed: ‘I’m turning 54 in a few weeks. Whoever designed that is out of touch.’
The ad did not go down well with users who criticized it for perpetuating “ageist stereotypes”, while one person asked “who approved this?”
Someone else wrote: “No one has looked like that at 50 since the 1970s.”
“This is offensive,” added another.
One social media user said perhaps it was a “graphic made by a 20-year-old intern.”
The post even caused some people to defend the appearances of those over 50.
One person wrote: “My mom is 78 and she doesn’t look like that.”
“My mother is 92 years old and she doesn’t look like it,” said another.
“Good Lord almighty,” one added. ‘I’m over 60 and I’m sure I don’t look like that. At least I hope not.”
Meanwhile someone else said: “It’s a terrible cartoon so it’s not unfair.” It’s a grant for writers over 50, and two white people over 80 have created it.
The Speculative Literature Foundation has been contacted for comment.
