> Yes, and all sorts of underlying reasons are hidden by assuming "-isms" and victimhood at the first sign of disparate outcomes.

This is a loaded and contentious statement ("assuming...victimhood at the first sign").

And trying to address ageism is trying to solve the problem; the problem is ageism.

In your particular example, ageism is manifest because older workers tend to have families and financial obligations (both of which, by the way, contribute to society). That's not "perceived" ageism. It's simply ageism.