Age ain't nothing and how we can end ageism against women in the workplace

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Last Women's Day, Accensis highlighted the issues of the working woman.

We explored why professional women are experiencing what psychologists have defined as 'burnout' – the mental and physical tiredness from overexertion.

There are so many factors women have to juggle on a daily basis. It can wear us down.

What caught our eye recently were some very poignant studies conducted by the Harvard Business Review – it revealed that out of 913 professional women, most have experienced what they call 'never right' age bias.

No matter how young or old a woman may be, she is constantly considered underqualified due to age and appearance

Women who look 'too young'

Women in their 20s and 30s felt that they were seen as too young for their positions in leadership. Their looks were often cited as a determing factor, as they report that men tend to focus on the looks of women between 20-40. 

On the other hand, older women felt like they were pushed into the background, and their voices were often silenced.

While men of the same age and job title are seen as gaining wisdom with experience.

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28 year old CEO? Too young. 41-year-old senior analyst? Past her time. 

But there is a power in voicing your opinions.

Our voice expresses power, inner strength, wisdom, and confidence. We can inspire and uplift others. It is our superpower to help people around us to explore their emotions and feel connected to their true selves. 

Calling out these instances of this discrimination and using your power to prevent it are just some ways you can make a difference. 

At Accensis, we recognise that people can experience discrimination due to their age.

Women of all ages have a chance to work together to make a change and even highlight these issues, like the authors of this article. 

Our emotions are intrinsically linked to our voice. Our voice can achieve gender equality also ensuring that our voices are heard, respected, and taken seriously.

As a society, men and women, young and old, have a responsibility to change these attitudes and ensure a general culture of love and acceptance. 

What are our rights?

There are so many hurdles we face as women. But here are some things we can celebrate that women have achieved so far:

-       Women have the right to vote in 189 countries. 

-       The right to equal pay for equal work is a central goal of women's rights advocacy.

-       The right to education. Education empowers women economically and socially and enables them to participate in society. 

-       Workplace equality, which involves ending harassment, promoting opportunities for career advancement and leadership positions.  

-       The right to raise awareness, which includes activism surrounding domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and to also provide support to another woman. 

-       Access to quality healthcare, including maternal health services, is vital to a woman's well-being, including her family. 

Regardless of age, gender or anything else that seems to cause a stir, we should be looking to fix the hurt in the world and build for a better future.

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