Aging is the one thing all of us have in common. With luck, we'll all grow old—and yet—ageism runs rampant.
Ageism is discrimination against people based on their age. Like other forms of discrimination, ageism is based on disgusting and grossly inaccurate negative stereotypes. And unfortunately—also like all other forms of discrimination—ageism is frequently cited in the workplace.
According to AARP, 64 percent of workers have witnessed or experienced age discrimination. That number shows no sign of decreasing, and with today's multigenerational workforce, individuals of every age are subject to this form of discrimination. Here, we'll be sharing how women of all ages might face age discrimination, and what to do if this happens to you.
"She's just inexperienced..."
While ageism was originally used as a descriptor for prejudice against older individuals, the current workforce is more diverse in age than ever. This means that younger workers are feeling the heat as well.
Have you ever heard a coworker mutter "entitled millennials"? Check! That's ageist behavior. And if you are a part of the millennial or Gen-Z workforce, have you ever felt the need to justify why you deserve a promotion because someone calls you inexperienced or speaks down to you? Bingo! Ageism. So how do you deal?
- Speak up: We really do want to believe that most people say these types of things unintentionally. It is the crux of inherent bias. So chatting respectfully can really help bridge gaps in their knowledge. Explain how their words and actions have affected you, remind them that you value their expertise, and that you are excited to have a meaningful back and forth where you both learn and grow from each other's knowledge base.
"So, are you thinking about starting a family?"
Ageism against individuals in their 30s and 40s is especially interesting because of how often this discrimination is targeted specifically at women. Potential employers are not able to flat out ask your age, but instead, might ask (other illegal) interview questions like "When are you starting a family? or How old are your children?" and could use these answers to justify choosing another candidate. They might say something like "you seem to be prioritizing family, and we need someone who will be 100% here." This ridiculous attitude can really block women who are seeking higher positions or career transitions. If this sounds like you during the job search, we have something to help.
- Know what's up: Get to know your worth and your rights. Become familiar with illegal interview questions and get to know organizations designed to stand up with you. In addition to having that in your back pocket, become extra practiced in sharing all of the value you bring to any company. Highlight recent achievements and skill acquisition along with all of the other power moves you've made in your career.
"Retirement is probably looking pretty good right about now."
Long gone are the days of retiring at 55. Individuals in their 50s and 60s are now put in the unique position of career planning at an age when their parents would have been retiring. This, coupled with the fact that many western societies prioritize youth over all else, can lead to gross stereotypes hidden behind innocuous phrases like "you can't teach an old dog new tricks."
While a joking phrase doesn't seem particularly damning, when taken to the extreme this can result in more growth opportunities given to younger workers, becoming passed over for promotions, or not being included in challenging projects. We must all be reminded that creativity and innovation don't have an age limit.
- Network up: Too often people in their 50s and 60s are looked at as a mentor figure, but rarely is this a two-way street. For anyone worried about feeling 'aged-out' we recommend building connections across the multitude of generations that exist in your industry. Creating multi-generational networks will build a community with unique experiences, knowledge, and perspectives.
"This is probably after your time, but..."
If you are in this age range in the workforce you have seen the first Macintosh computer to the iPhone X—and everything in between. So when someone says “you wouldn’t 'get' new tech,” it is often coming from a place of uninformed prejudice against older people. Remember, your generation literally wrote the book on coping with changing technologies. Sharing your valuable experience and what you have to offer is the first step in conquering these thoughts. To help, we're suggesting to level up.
- Level up: What we mean by leveling up is that we encourage you to challenge your own assumptions about age. Don't fall into the trap of saying "I'm having a senior moment." Instead, highlight your experience and wisdom—and find strategies to help other people's perceptions. The world needs all of the wisdom it can get.
