06/10/2023
Gendered age biases still exist, and it’s not okay. A @harvard_business_review study reveals women are either too young to be taken seriously, or too old to be taken seriously. There is "no right age" for promotion.
The study, which surveyed more than 900 women in professional roles ranging from higher education executives to attorneys and physicians, found that many reported facing discrimination at every step of their careers.
Younger women, and those who appeared younger, were given pet names, patted on the head, and faced "role incredulity," with others mistaking them for interns, trainees, administrative assistants or other paralegals, the study found.
Middle-aged women, meanwhile, also faced ageism, with one college executive recounting that some search committees opt against hiring women in their late 40s due to the perception of "too much family responsibility and impending menopause".
While older male workers are viewed as authoritative, older women are often discounted in the workplace.
The question arises: What is your organization doing to change this?