Time With Sands – Sexism & Ageism

As a woman, I’ve experienced my share of discrimination in the workplace. Now that I’m over 60 I feel it tenfold. We come far as a society, but sexism and ageism are still a problem. What can I do to address these issues in my workplace?

— Carrie H.

First off, I want to say that though we have come a long way in the realm of aging and sexism, we still have far to go. First off, I want to say that though we have come a long way in the realm of aging and sexism, we still have far to go. We see this now with what’s going on with the leaked draft to reverse Roe v. Wade. This policy-making is rooted in sexism in our patriarchal society. And further, under this patriarchy, women suffer more from ageism than men.

The fight has been long and we may feel fatigued, but we must keep moving forward. To do this we strengthen our resolve and embrace what it truly means to have inner sovereignty. 

If you have your own sense of value and agency then no one can take that away from you. And if you’re strong as an individual woman, it only makes us stronger as a group.

It’s key to determine whether you are in a win-lose or a win-win-win game/system. If it’s a zero-sum game, take your bat & ball to another playing field as fast as you can!  But if it’s a true gem then what you can do in your company is to begin to have tough conversations. Things will not change unless we address them head-on! It’s also important because women are the future of business. Studies show that companies with women in leadership fare better than those without.

Every time you speak up for your right to be respected and valued, you pave the way for the women who come after you!