AGEISM IN THE WORKING LIFE CONTINUUM OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS

Abstract

Intergenerational coexistence, also in the workplace, is a reality and has implications for people's lives. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize generational diversity among workers, exposing and discussing ageism. It is in this logic that the objective of this article is to analyze ageism throughout the continuum of the working life of university professors at a community college. To this end, a study was carried out, with exploratory-descriptive research and a qualitative approach. Data were collected through life history, focus group and documentary research, enabling data triangulation in the thematic analysis. Positive and negative stereotypes were detected as antecedents to ageism throughout the working life of the researchers, confirming the recurrence of ageism, especially in the early and late years of the teaching career. It is believed that the results of the research brought theoretical contributions, mainly in the decolonial logic and throughout the professionals' careers; practical contributions to higher education institutions, especially for the researched one; social contributions, as stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination are exposed; methodological contributions, as the topic is worked on more quantitatively and life history is rarely used as a data collection technique, and thematic analysis is rarely used as a data analysis technique. Thus, we believe in the potential impact of this research on people's personal lives, as well as on their work lives and society.