adultism

noun

adult·​ism ə-ˈdəl-ˌti-zəm 

: prejudice or discrimination against children or adolescents as a group

Young people experience adultism in many ways. They are too young to vote, but old enough to be drafted. Young people are thought to be irresponsible and selfish. They are considered too ignorant about life and the world to make their own decisions.

—Marcie Telander et al.

Contributing to both the marginalization and silencing of young people, adultism poses a significant set of challenges to the incorporation of children into our world's various public spaces.

—Patrick Hayden

adultist

ə-ˈdəl-tist 

adjective

An adultist society is one that tends to prioritise adult needs over children's needs.

—Eloise Rickman, quoted in The Guardian

Word History

Etymology

adult entry 2 + -ism

First Known Use

1978, in the meaning defined above