Ageing is a universal experience beginning at birth, not something that only happens to old people, said Ashton Applewhite. This begs the question: if ageing is universal, why is ageism so prevalent? More importantly, how can intergenerational solidarity create change?

The fifth annual Century Summit offered two days of panel discussions on how ageism hurts everyone. Hosted by Stanford University in collaboration with the Stanford Center on Longevity, the summit focused on the challenges of ageism and the opportunities to create a positive intergenerational society. The 16 sessions covered topics on age and culture, age and work, the beauty industry and gendered ageism.