![]() ![]() ![]() Prejudice towards a group of people, othering, relies on seeing them as different from yourself. You know now that your judgment back then came from a place of blindness, and yet you know there’s little point trying to argue against ageism. ![]() Younger you thought disparaging things about older people. When in a meeting, you sense eyes wandering away as you struggle to make a point or share an idea, when you feel yourself being overlooked for projects or promotions, when people assume you know nothing about tech, when you can tell people are judging you for being at a gig or wearing the clothes you want to wear – you recognise yourself in those reactions. You see in people’s faces the same thoughts you used to have. When you’re an elder (I claim this descriptor as I was born in 1970, you do the math**) and you begin to experience ageism, it’s like bumping into your younger self. It all becomes a subtle concoction of microaggressions – tiny slights and oversights – that might not seem like much individually, but over time can add up to death (or unemployment, or less pay) by a thousand cuts.īut here’s the freaky thing about ageism in the workplace – or anywhere. Add to the mix any other marginalisation – ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation – and being older and non-male just gets even harder. How dare she be old! And how is it possible that she still be talented and command presence on stage? Admittedly, Timmins’ job as a band-fronting touring musician is associated with youth, but ageism is rife in many fields.Īnd when sexism and ageism combine, it’s a potent combination. She was in her early 50s and when they met he spluttered out: “I didn’t realise you were so old.” Timmins laughs, remembering how he was not only disappointed but visibly upset. Margo Timmins, lead singer with the veteran band Cowboy Junkies, tells a story about a young male journalist, 20-ish, approaching her after a gig in Canada. The subtle and invisible bias against being older still has huge consequences for women in the workplace, writes Angela Barnett.Īll week on The Spinoff we are delving into our relationship with the world of work in Aotearoa. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |