Gender and Ageism

This week in class we looked at ageism and adultism, defined as ageism: the oppression of elders by youth and adults, and adultism: the oppression of young people by adults and elders. As I was looking for articles to relate these definitions to my overall theme of gender, it was quite easy to do. Each of the articles I found focus on women and aging and how each of

these ideas relate to one another.

      In Harris's article Women Embrace Aging, Despite Experiencing Ageism More Deeply than Men, she discusses how women throughout the world are embracing their age even though statistics show that  "68 per cent of older women said they've been treated unfairly or differently due to their years, versus 57 per cent of older men" (Harris, M., 2013). This disconnect is believed to be a result of women maintaining stronger social networks than men, which may serve as a buffer against negativity; promote physical, emotional and mental health, allowing a sense of having defied negative senior stereotypes; and give women purpose. This article really intrigued me and gave me reason to think more about the women I know and how their health has been significantly better in older age than men in their similar situations. 

       Continuing the trend of having stronger social networks, in Ready to go Gray?, Whitbourne discusses how some women are ditching hair dye for a more natural look and reflecting on why they are trying to keep their youthful image, rather than embracing who they are changing into. This could be because of ageism, oppression in the workplace or just a reaction to getting older. If we think about how men with gray hair are looked at, I think of wise, experienced and knowledgeable  but on the other hand women with gray hair simply are seen as old by the public. Why this double standard over something as  trivial as hair color? Embrace who you are ladies, and if you're graying and don't like it, then go ahead and get the hair dye. 

      Finally, a topic that I think it absolutely ridiculous, but I've heard in the news quite a bit lately, is that some women are "too pretty" for their jobs. A story I'm sure most of America heard this past year was about and Iowa mother-of-two Melissa Nelson who was fired in 2010 after working for a dentist for 10 years because he said his attraction to her was a threat to his marriage. Ms. Nelson's story is not the only of its' kind, in fact in Fynes-Clinton's article, discusses other similar cases from London and California where women have experienced discrimination because of their looks. 

Fynes-Clinton, J. (2013, July 25). Ageism and sexism are common types of discrimination in the workplace but being pretty is a problem too. In Courier Mail. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/ageism-and-sexism-are-common-types-of-discrimination-in-the-workplace-but-being-pretty-is-a-problem-too/story-fnihsr9v-1226684162280

Harris, M. (2013, July 3). Women embrace aging, despite experiencing ageism more deeply than men. In Calgary Herald. http://www.calgaryherald.com/life/Women+embrace+aging+despite+experiencing+ageism+more+deeply+than/8612066/story.html

Whitbourne, S. K. (2013, July 24). Ready to Go Gray? Why Some 50+ Women Are Ditching The Hair Dye. In Huff Post Post 50. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-krauss-whitbourne/aging-gracefully_b_3610251.html