El edadismo como expresión de desigualdad social en Latinoamérica: características, fuentes y estrategias de superación

Buen Vivir, as a constitutional and social paradigm proposed in Ecuador since 2008, reflects a sustained effort by Ecuadorian society, including its leaders, institutions, and citizens, to build spaces for coexistence in accordance with this ancient indigenous philosophy, where well-being is not anchored to an economic perspective but rather to the human need to be at peace with oneself and one's societal environment. Meanwhile, working toward an active aging process, free from age discrimination, is part of the collective effort to ensure that older adults are revalued within the framework of social inclusion practices that can realize the Buen Vivir (Good Living) enshrined in the Ecuadorian Constitution. Thus, the objective of this article is a critical hermeneutic of ageism as an expression of social inequality in Ecuador, reinterpreting it in light of the principles established by Buen Vivir as a philosophy for harmonious coexistence free from age discrimination. Methodologically, this is a qualitative research project based on the analysis of scientific articles published in high-impact journals recognized by indexes such as SCOPUS, Redalyc, and others. Among the research findings, it was possible to demonstrate that ageism in Ecuador is viewed by the authors as a set of socially rooted beliefs and stereotypes that associate aging with a process in which people become increasingly dependent and isolated, and perceive themselves not as full citizens with rights, but as burdens on their families and the state public health system.