Ageism throughout women's lives
Fran Winandy
60+ Reference in Brazil in Ageism and Generational Integration. Author of the book: "Ageism, a new name for an old prejudice". Advisor, Consultant, Speaker and Teacher of Executive Training Programs.
The feeling of unease with prejudice in different areas is something that has been with me since childhood, something that shaped who I am as a person and gradually made me embrace other causes related to what is called today Diversity.
When I was young, in a job interview, I was asked about when I intended to have children. My blunt reply to the Human Resources director made him apologize and tell me that I was the right person for the job, because professionals from Human Resources area must have a critical sense!
The fact is that Ageism, or age prejudice, rarely operates in isolation and accompanies us, women, throughout our lives. When young, the issue of pregnancy is still a matter of concern for some more traditional managers.
When we have small children, prejudice hangs over us again: will we be able to deal with it? No matter how well we manage to balance work life with diapers, pediatricians, fevers, and school presentations, at the first sign of domestic interference at work, our male colleagues look sideways and comment among themselves how protected and privileged we are in the company, forgetting about their own mothers, wives, or daughters.
When the children finally grow up, things seem to be calmer for us: we manage to take some short courses, start a graduate course, or even go to the gym. But then parents and parents-in-law start to grow old and often have health problems. In these cases, the burden usually falls on us, women, who, used to domestic logistics, shelter the elderly in this new stage.
And our children, who today tend to remain comfortably installed at home until they are 25, 30, sometimes have their children on their own, voluntarily or not, and are not always able to afford a family financially and emotionally. And here we go, mothers, daughters and now grandparents, to deal with this situation without any major issues, after all, we are already used to getting a head start and making it happen!
As life goes on, ageism happens, bringing inexplicably petty situations to everyone, but especially to us, women, who, in addition to all that, still have to remember to dye our hair, put on makeup and stay in shape.
Think about it when someone in your company says: "- She is an excellent person, but she could take better care of herself!".
Diretora Medica | Confiance Medicina Diagnostica
3 年Mulher e multi tarefa e eu brinco que é a despachante da família pois da conta dos pais, filhos e netos. Nossa for?a e enorme! Precisamos ser respeitadas!
Artist in Residence: Oil Pastel, Acrylic, Random Stuff
3 年The code language is similar. A man is decisive, a woman is aggressive. An older worker is rigid, a younger worker is assertive. An older worker is opinionated a younger worker is expressive. Having fought sexism and now sexist ageism I won’t stop resisting.
English Teacher/Translator at Verso Escrita & Idiomas
3 年These words are so true, Fran! A text that makes us think about the challenges that we, women, face every day!
Consultora de Gest?o e Carreiras 50+/Projetos para empresas em Diversidade etária e Educa??o para Longevidade. Cofundadora do canal LongeTalks. Sócia Diretora do Pontes & Conex?es e Palestrante na área da Longevidade.
3 年Fran Winandy , excelentes reflex?es sobre preconceito etário a mulher . Me representa . Passei por todas essas fases citadas no seu artigo e a última pela qual fiz acontecer foi nos meus últimos anos de mundo corporativo , dentro da caixinha . Há 5 anos , decidi que grisalhar era importante e pintar toda semana n?o faria mais parte da minha realidade . Na época profissionais, homens e principalmente mulheres que trabalhavam comigo , me aconselharam a pintar , afinal cabelos brancos envelhece e n?o era bom passava a imagem de descuido . Segui em frente . Hoje , depois de 5 anos , muitas mulheres est?o assumindo e agora é natural . Quando acreditamos e quebramos paradigmas, rompemos barreiras e nos fortificamos . Fa?amos acontecer ! #simmulherespodem