Hi Gen X-ERs!
Is anyone facing ageism in the workplace? I’m so tired of my 40 something co workers making ageist comments. It’s so annoying.
Anonymous
03/30/24 at 4:21PM UTC
I was grey at 20. With the covid, I stopped dying my hair. I haven't gone back to it and it is much healthier. Why does hair color matter so much?
Anonymous
10/10/24 at 2:31PM UTC (Edited)
I actually stopped trying to color my roots. Now many people think that the white/gray hair that is growing was done on purpose. Like I had hi-lights put in that way. I still look about 10 years younger than I really am. I am pushing 50. It's hard trying to find work right now. I'm thinking I'm going to have to find a temp agency. What I need is a job with benefits that pays me enough to actually afford to live. Because I'm coming up on the short end of the stick there. I've already moved myself and my adult son into my mother's home so we can try and save some extra somehow, whatever way we can.
c dh
47
03/12/24 at 11:08PM UTC
I do think certain employers want to hire older people but, honestly I do not know who those employers are! I have been looking for a fulltime position for over a year and nothing at the moment. I reduced my resume to 10 years even though I had a highly successful career in broadcast TV/commercials and video production. I don't reveal my experience beyond my pharma marketing career since 2017. I also don't list when I graduated from college since that is a dead giveaway.
Star7spouse of retired military
247
03/01/24 at 4:30AM UTC
yes, I think it's is that or just plain favoritism. I have been thinking about going to my union and or speaking with an employment attorney
Anonymous
01/27/24 at 11:38PM UTC
What comments, examples?
I'm a X'er and you know what, the most ageist people I've met in places I worked, full of younger people, came from my generation or boomers, always complaining about everything, their wrinkles, their white hair, the new generations way of life. Always on it-was-better-before mode, and shaming staying young in spirit after 40. I had a colleague who kind of made fun of me to stay updated in tech and culture, and I just kindly answered "I'm not applying ageism to myself" like that I certainly didn't tell her what to do and vice-versa. Find a way to set your boundaries in a friendly way without shifting the blame. I never had remarks from younger people who knew me enough, maybe because I didn't look them down, that's how I'm living my experienced wisdom.
On the other side, I clearly felt ageism being added to sexism from certain recruiters when searching for jobs. I consider they're the most limited ones, not me. The filter goes both sides.
And at a volunteering position, it happened that a few young people just starting working could be mean, but this was so lame, it's a demonstration of their insecurities. Moreover, I was not impressed by their work. High school years are a far behind me, calm down.
Amy Carissa Oliver
1.37k
01/26/24 at 4:42PM UTC
Here's what I would say, "That is a highly inappropriate comment. If you have a problem with the quality of my work or you disagree with my opinions, then let's talk about it. However, my age is not a part of this discussion now or ever. If it continues, then our next discussion will be about ADEA. Am I making myself clear?"
Anonymous
01/27/24 at 1:24PM UTC
Yes that will make them feel much more warmly towards her....
Anonymous
01/26/24 at 1:50PM UTC
Can you play it off with humor? They say something ageist and you fire back "hey don't me mad at me that I'm closer to retirement"
Anonymous
01/26/24 at 3:45AM UTC
I have in the past. It's no different to how Baby Boomers have been treated for the past few years by younger generations (including Gen X). Western cultures tend to have more youth-centered societies that place value in young adults rather than older adults. Ageist stereotypes regarding the elderly are instilled from a young age. We need to change the cultural perception to one that values the viewpoints of older generations and recognizes that even though we may perceive things differently, their experiences give them a perspective that will benefit us.
