Most people are well aware of the stigma of age on older women in the entertainment industry. But how do we handle the stigma of the "older woman" when it comes to the office environment? Is she seen as wiser, more stable (no kids running around, no daycare disasters), and more reliable? Or is she seen as someone who needs to be quietly phased out like a once-helpful, now slow and stodgy old computer that is past its prime?
If you're a younger woman who is trying to climb all the right steps in career advancement, it's a good idea to examine the attitude toward older women in your field - and your own beliefs about them as well. Oftentimes we are advised to protect our jobs through the typical steps to career advancement: take continuing ed classes to pile up credit hours and higher degrees; earn good reviews and keep copies of them; be visible in the office; earn promotions by taking on leadership opportunities. But that's not all there is to it.
We also need to make sure our job will be available, to ourselves or those who would follow in our footsteps should we choose to leave the field, by creating a network of support between women of all ages in the workplace. According to a piece in a recent issue of Real Simple, younger women should be watching for opportunities to make sure older women who are doing their jobs well are keeping their jobs. If older women are being "let go" or appear to be unhappy in the workplace, it's time to find a new place to work or to step in and help older employees fight for their positions.
In other words, if an older woman is doing a good job, look to her as a role model and someone to learn from instead of considering her to be a she-wolf hogging your future position. It never hurts to have friends in high places or mentors to learn from - no matter what their age.
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There is a good reason why older women aren't considered desirable for promotion or hiring... they're generally surly. Aging is a tragedy for women, more so than men. This isn't just due to societal bias, it's due to the fact that they're losing the power of procreation, and this is a tragedy that makes them acutely aware of the aging process.
To a great extent, menopause destroys a woman. It destroys their relationships, both personal and professional. Then they find solace in being a grandmother, which gives them a refuge from the real world.
I think this is really old news... we just "forgot" these facts as a society and are trying to re-learn them in a more politically correct way.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 9, 2007 4:38 PM | Permalink to Comment