Many believe that gender and age have no effect on how people are treated in the workplace these days – but this is just isn’t true.
Sexism and ageism cause older women to disappear from workplaces – and COVID made this even worse. How?
Older women are frequently removed from big projects, not promoted as often as younger employees, or let go from jobs – and that’s if they’re hired in the first place.
While it's illegal to discriminate based on age, many companies have found ways around this. There’s a reason this keeps happening so frequently.
Older women have more experience and confidence – which means they are worth higher salaries, are less likely to put up with harassment, are more vocal about demanding respect, and conform less to sexist beauty standards. This is all especially significant when the women are Black.
This has to change. In order for older women to receive better working conditions and treatment, we have to collectively challenge gender stereotypes and sexist standards whenever we see them – and look within.
We must challenge sexist standards of professionalism WE hold, too, and relinquish any biases about age, womanhood, parenting, etc. that could be discriminatory against older women. The solution isn't for women to overcome these battles, but for them to stop happening – and we all play a part!