Too Old for What? Challenging the Myths of Aging

When you get to your fifties, the world tries to erase you. Don't let it happen! (Article and video)

(Watch a more in-depth discussion on YouTube!)

Have you had that experience yet, the one where you walked into a room and you realized you were invisible?

Or maybe you saw a job posting that asked for a 'dynamic, youthful team player'? Or you sent out forty-five resumes after being laid off, and not one employer contacted you.

Ageism is real, and for women over forty-five, it’s everywhere.

I’ve got to be honest; this issue pisses me off. I made it to my early fifties before it happened to me, and I can’t fully explain how it feels. It’s like you become a ghost, walking around with no one seeing you.

And, don’t worry all you younger women, you’ll get there soon enough.

What angers me so much is that I’ve never been more creative or felt more alive, but because I have a few wrinkles, it’s like most people think my brain died.

My latest podcast is all about ageism - what it is, how it affected me, and what we can do to try to start changing the way people think about women once they’re past forty.

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Ageism in the Workplace

According to a 2023 AARP study, nearly sixty percent of women aged forty-five and older say they’ve experienced or witnessed age discrimination in the workplace. And it doesn’t stop there. It’s in advertising, media, even the well-meaning comments from friends who say, “You’re too old for that.”

Ageism is rampant in the workplace, with women getting the double dose of sexism and ageism. A 2022 article by Eleanor Mills in The Queenager discussed Sheryl Sandberg stepping down from Meta at fifty-two. While she cited personal reasons, many people thought she no longer had a role in Zuckerberg’s metaverse plans. In tech, women over thirty are often considered old.

A ProPublica study found that fifty-six percent of workers over fifty are pushed out before they’re ready to retire. That’s more than half. And women face even more pressure thanks to entrenched sexism added to the myth that youth equals competence.

Comments like 'You look great for your age' may seem kind, but they’re not. They reinforce the idea that older equals bad. And that takes a toll. Many women hide their age—dyeing their hair, dressing younger, avoiding birthday conversations.

If that’s your choice, great. Go for it. But if you feel forced to hide who you are, it can lead to isolation, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome.

Redefining Aging

So what can we do?

Call out ageism when you see it. If someone says, 'Aren’t you too old for that?' say, 'Actually, I’m the perfect age to try something new.'

Find women in your area who are also navigating this. Or better yet, find women who still know how to have fun. Because joy is its own form of resistance.

And if no one will hire you, start your own business. Check out your local Women’s Business Center for training, loans, and support. SCORE (the Society of Retired Executives) can help too.

Let’s get back at the ageists and sexists by being our boldest, most brilliant selves. And let’s support each other. I started Hearth because on my deathbed, I want to know I lived fully and that I tried to help a few others along the way.

Aging isn’t a problem to solve. It’s a privilege. Every wrinkle tells a story, and every year is proof of our strength.

So let’s work on shifting the narrative and create a world that values women for their wisdom, experience, and vitality; no matter their age.

Now go out and be your best, badass self!

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Diane Hatz is an author, organizer, and inner activist. Join her email list to get personal newsletters and more. You can find info on her books and writing on her website and through her email list.