childism

the attitude, conveyed in words and behavior, toward children that they are somehow inferior (less important, less deserving of respect, unequal and inferior to adults; that they are property and can or even should be controlled, enslaved, or removed to serve adult needs) is thought to lay the foundation for all other subsequent -isms: sexism, racism, heterosexism, etc. When children are not respected and valued for who they are (not for what they can do), they learn that life is either someone looking down on you ... or you looking down on someone else. See also adultism.