‘OK Boomer’ Heads To The Supreme Court For An Age Discrimination Case
Image via Shutterstock
“OK Boomer” has become an internet meme that youths sometimes use to shut down boomers by often implying that the older age group is tiresome and confidently ignorant. Now, the term has made its way to the US Supreme Court over a senate trial on an age discrimination case.
A federal staff member had to prove that her employer had practiced unlawful age discrimination against her. At one point, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. dropped the infamous catchphrase in the courtroom.
“What if a hiring person were to say, ‘OK Boomer,’ is that actionable?” Roberts questioned.
Lawyer Roman Martinez was quick to reply to Roberts’ query. “Well if the speech in the workplace calling someone ‘boomer’ or saying unflattering things about them in age, when considering them for a position, then yes, of course,” Martinez responded.
Roberts questioned if the term would be actionable if it was just “boomer” instead. In response, Martinez explained the term could be actionable in a hiring process when a candidate who was older and labeled as a “boomer” could be described as “probably tired” or “doesn’t have a lot of computer skills.” In this case, Martinez claims it would be indeed actionable.
This isn’t the first time the term had been brought forward in a law proceeding. The term previously made it to New Zealand’s parliament when Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick used it to silence a heckler during her speech.
[via Mashable, images via Shutterstock.com]
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