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When I am old I shall wear purple
The data shows women up to 54 years old increased their presence in the Workplace by 77.5%
But Women 55 and older have stuck near pandemic-era lows.
A lot of these women took early and other retirement. They were not willing to work during a pandemic. Some left to start their own businesses.
I have some other thoughts about this, given I am 76 and still running 2 companies,
I think I know what's going on.So here's What women 50+ deal with daily;
1.The number of times a day I am treated like an addled brain old woman is out of control. Somehow a woman reaches her mid 40's, becomes Peri-menopausal or is older and countless people think you can't think clearly or think for yourself. You stop getting complicated assignments and people react to you with that patronizing voice.Like "don't worry we'll let you stay here and work but here's your new job (that's busy work till they can get you to retire)"
By the way this reaction is not just at work.Doctors,Lawyers etc. react to you the same way.
2.You become invisible and voiceless.
They not only can't hear you they also CAN'T SEE YOU! That's right people start clipping you when you walk by or don't move out of your way as if you are just not there.You use to be important and people would see you and move out of your way, not when you are more then 50!
You are interrupted and never allowed to finish a sentence. In meetings at work and at family gatherings you are discounted as a human being. What you say has no import or less than it did when you were younger. When they do hear you they resort to patronizing you. Some of you know the tone of voice I am talking about.
3.If they do see or hear you they may end the conversation or encounter with something like; "you have so much energy (for your age)" Most times the "for your age" is unspoken but it reverberates in the air hovering. It's a shock or surprise that we are still able to work and contribute.
All of this may be why woman don't want to work past their mid 50's. Maybe they can't stand 1-3 anymore. Some of us have enough retirement so we don't have to put up with this and we start our own non-profits or companies in which we command respect from most people.
When your older women workers walk out your door they take with them years of experience and solutions.They take an invaluable source of knowledge.
How about you respect these woman in your speaking, acting and tone of voice. How about you treat them as the role models and mentors they are. Consider them Sages
not useless dunces.
And remember you will also be them one day. Each day you get older you get closer to being treated badly too. So now is the time to change your behavior in the hopes you will get better treatment when you grow old!!
By the way,men do not get this treatment. Ageism (that is what it is) is most often directed to older women not older men.
It has become such an issue that both the Geena Davis Institute and Catalyst are focusing on it as a problem.
Let me know what you think and what you have had to deal with.
Susan
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