BTW a Note on the same topic as this post got a fantastic comment I wanted to share here, from JT:
A number of years ago, for the intended purpose of what you posit, I hosted an intergenerational event for our public library. It was a potluck with short talks from each of the generations represented plus group sessions with thought-starter questions. Happy to say it was of our most successful library events, which tells us - people are hungry for these conversations to help us understand.
Thank you for the thoughtfulness on an issue that lives among us and we have somehow made a well-fed pet.
I started on-camera TV work in the 1980s and discovered that I was too young to be taken seriously in my early twenties and too old to be given a chance to grow an audience in an anchor role by my mid-30s. The sweet spot was small to get a toe-hold. I left to be a host for a network on a streamer. I got opportunities AND was always aware of the ticking clock. Word came down to the production company from higher-ups that they were now only to hire hosts in their lower 30s and on-cam guests should be in their 20s from then on.
I am not telling a bitter story. I was blessed by so many things while I was there, but I think media is captured by the story of new. And media of all forms is our mirror and our marketer - distorted or not.
It might (almost certainly?) take courage to clean that mirror.
One more time - thank you for your Undivided writing!
Thank you for this Joan. I had a few folks DM me with similar kinds of stories about the same kinds of perceptions in their industries too. It does feel like there are these toe-hold moments that can come and go very quickly. I have friends from my advertising days on insane incomes. But they tell me if they lost that job, there wouldn't be another one. Kinda scary. But like I wrote, we are stranger together. And it's up to us to keep building all these bridges. Thank you for being a reader and thank you for being the first commenter!
I love that the typo left it that "we re stranger together." Strange equals different and that feels like a requirement for a shift! All good and undivided things to you!
This article has taught me that I am considered “older people” by the WHO. I’m not aware of any age discrimination that I’ve faced, personally. There may have been some but I didn’t know. I am an elder millennial (that whole parenting section in that video didn’t apply to me or anyone my age at all) with GenX, Gen Z and younger millennial friends.
But I do SEE the ageism, the stereotypes and I often wonder why no one sees the way we recycle these myths. People say similar things about Gen Z that they said about millennials when we were their age. They said similar things about us that they said about Gen X.
Has any generation ever not been perceived as lazy in their 20’s? Has any generation not been seen as out of touch in their 60’s?
I have been reflecting on and struggling with ageism an awful lot lately. When I came across your piece on the topic, I couldn’t wait to have all my views on how I’m a victim of ageism(🥴) confirmed, until I realized I too, am guilty of it. Often dismissing and getting caught up in labels and stereotypes of “generations”. Know better,
Do better is where I WANT to live now.
Thank you
So much for yet another terrific piece that speaks to me.
Of all the things I worked on in my career, I had the most fun with MINI. What a brand. Those cars make you smile behind the wheel. I don't know how they did it.
Sadly, the current climate made it impossible for the numbers to work on getting into a new lease so, I just bought mine out after having leased for 15 years from them. I’ll keep it for a year or so and sell it myself.
You raise some great points, and I will be thinking about this. As a older professor, I work with young folk everyday. Most of my colleagues are decades younger than me. I have seen many of the things you discussed, and I have seen the damage it has done to many older folks. On the other hand, I have also seen older folks who are unwilling to admit that they are struggling to do their job and unwilling to turn the reins over… I suspect most of us can think of some obvious examples! Unlike other prejudices (racism, homophobia, sexism), there are some realities to this aging thing. Wisdom may be the fine art of balancing all this. Like I said, I will be thinking about your piece. Thanks!
For sure Looking Back, I'm glad it landed with you. I also hear what you say about folks that won't hand over the reigns. I experienced so much of that in the business world where the people below them with amazing ideas, were chomping at the bit. This is the dynamic that causes so many companies and institutions to lose the next generation of great minds and thinking.
As a woman in my 40s, I often feel caught between “you’re too young for an executive role” and the looming invisibility of the 50s.
In my personal life, I deeply value my intergenerational friendships. But in professional environments, I often see barriers between generations — in both directions.
Different approaches to work and the values behind them are too often seen as conflicting rather than complementary.
We should all be able to sit around the same table — not fearing one another, but recognizing the opportunity to learn from each other and move forward together.
It's true what you say, I find it easier to be in friendships with age differences than at work. People are segregated so much by age there. It's a real loss. But I'm speaking these days at companies more and more about this topic. People want to be more connected at work. But we have to ditch the labels, which takes work. Thanks a bunch for reading and commenting!
I appreciate your article. Age is a topic that's been heavy on my mind recently as I've been untangling old beliefs about age. I'm in my late thirties, and not much about my life has turned out like how I was told it "should" by my age. It's a strange place to be, yet I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time. Being able to sit with the fears I've had has made a big difference in being able to let go of limiting beliefs and move forward with more compassion for myself and others.
I think this has helped me be more open to learning from the international graduate students I work with. I help mentor them, which I find rewarding, and they share great ideas and ask good questions. It's not about a power struggle but learning from each other.
Thank you Lizzy, and I'm glad to hear you have this great flow of ideas back and forth from your grad students. How wonderful. I have to tell you, being in my early 50s, not much every turns out the way you think, and you rarely feel you're where you should be. I had "the life" and was miserable. But so much of that came from following everybody else's scripts. I was always happiest when I followed my own. Often doing the things that didn't make sense but I felt called to, or just simply made me happy. And the other thing I've found when I do that is I discover more and more of what I'm capable of. Helped give me ammo against those self-limiting beliefs when they come. I actually talk a bit about that in this week's Emotions Diary: https://karldunn.substack.com/p/give-your-dreams-your-best-friend?r=3p3c9a
BTW a Note on the same topic as this post got a fantastic comment I wanted to share here, from JT:
A number of years ago, for the intended purpose of what you posit, I hosted an intergenerational event for our public library. It was a potluck with short talks from each of the generations represented plus group sessions with thought-starter questions. Happy to say it was of our most successful library events, which tells us - people are hungry for these conversations to help us understand.
Thank you for the thoughtfulness on an issue that lives among us and we have somehow made a well-fed pet.
I started on-camera TV work in the 1980s and discovered that I was too young to be taken seriously in my early twenties and too old to be given a chance to grow an audience in an anchor role by my mid-30s. The sweet spot was small to get a toe-hold. I left to be a host for a network on a streamer. I got opportunities AND was always aware of the ticking clock. Word came down to the production company from higher-ups that they were now only to hire hosts in their lower 30s and on-cam guests should be in their 20s from then on.
I am not telling a bitter story. I was blessed by so many things while I was there, but I think media is captured by the story of new. And media of all forms is our mirror and our marketer - distorted or not.
It might (almost certainly?) take courage to clean that mirror.
One more time - thank you for your Undivided writing!
Thank you for this Joan. I had a few folks DM me with similar kinds of stories about the same kinds of perceptions in their industries too. It does feel like there are these toe-hold moments that can come and go very quickly. I have friends from my advertising days on insane incomes. But they tell me if they lost that job, there wouldn't be another one. Kinda scary. But like I wrote, we are stranger together. And it's up to us to keep building all these bridges. Thank you for being a reader and thank you for being the first commenter!
I love that the typo left it that "we re stranger together." Strange equals different and that feels like a requirement for a shift! All good and undivided things to you!
I love that too! Finally autocorrect knows when to be hands off.
This article has taught me that I am considered “older people” by the WHO. I’m not aware of any age discrimination that I’ve faced, personally. There may have been some but I didn’t know. I am an elder millennial (that whole parenting section in that video didn’t apply to me or anyone my age at all) with GenX, Gen Z and younger millennial friends.
But I do SEE the ageism, the stereotypes and I often wonder why no one sees the way we recycle these myths. People say similar things about Gen Z that they said about millennials when we were their age. They said similar things about us that they said about Gen X.
Has any generation ever not been perceived as lazy in their 20’s? Has any generation not been seen as out of touch in their 60’s?
Good questions. And you're right, we're not even inventing new myths. Just recycling them from the last time. So interesting. Good call Lilith.
I have been reflecting on and struggling with ageism an awful lot lately. When I came across your piece on the topic, I couldn’t wait to have all my views on how I’m a victim of ageism(🥴) confirmed, until I realized I too, am guilty of it. Often dismissing and getting caught up in labels and stereotypes of “generations”. Know better,
Do better is where I WANT to live now.
Thank you
So much for yet another terrific piece that speaks to me.
Also, I have a Mini Cooper😜
Of all the things I worked on in my career, I had the most fun with MINI. What a brand. Those cars make you smile behind the wheel. I don't know how they did it.
Sadly, the current climate made it impossible for the numbers to work on getting into a new lease so, I just bought mine out after having leased for 15 years from them. I’ll keep it for a year or so and sell it myself.
Well, then you and that car have more adventures ahead.
YES! We do ✌🏻
You raise some great points, and I will be thinking about this. As a older professor, I work with young folk everyday. Most of my colleagues are decades younger than me. I have seen many of the things you discussed, and I have seen the damage it has done to many older folks. On the other hand, I have also seen older folks who are unwilling to admit that they are struggling to do their job and unwilling to turn the reins over… I suspect most of us can think of some obvious examples! Unlike other prejudices (racism, homophobia, sexism), there are some realities to this aging thing. Wisdom may be the fine art of balancing all this. Like I said, I will be thinking about your piece. Thanks!
For sure Looking Back, I'm glad it landed with you. I also hear what you say about folks that won't hand over the reigns. I experienced so much of that in the business world where the people below them with amazing ideas, were chomping at the bit. This is the dynamic that causes so many companies and institutions to lose the next generation of great minds and thinking.
A much-needed post — thank you, Karl!
As a woman in my 40s, I often feel caught between “you’re too young for an executive role” and the looming invisibility of the 50s.
In my personal life, I deeply value my intergenerational friendships. But in professional environments, I often see barriers between generations — in both directions.
Different approaches to work and the values behind them are too often seen as conflicting rather than complementary.
We should all be able to sit around the same table — not fearing one another, but recognizing the opportunity to learn from each other and move forward together.
It's true what you say, I find it easier to be in friendships with age differences than at work. People are segregated so much by age there. It's a real loss. But I'm speaking these days at companies more and more about this topic. People want to be more connected at work. But we have to ditch the labels, which takes work. Thanks a bunch for reading and commenting!
I appreciate your article. Age is a topic that's been heavy on my mind recently as I've been untangling old beliefs about age. I'm in my late thirties, and not much about my life has turned out like how I was told it "should" by my age. It's a strange place to be, yet I'm hopeful for the first time in a long time. Being able to sit with the fears I've had has made a big difference in being able to let go of limiting beliefs and move forward with more compassion for myself and others.
I think this has helped me be more open to learning from the international graduate students I work with. I help mentor them, which I find rewarding, and they share great ideas and ask good questions. It's not about a power struggle but learning from each other.
Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Thank you Lizzy, and I'm glad to hear you have this great flow of ideas back and forth from your grad students. How wonderful. I have to tell you, being in my early 50s, not much every turns out the way you think, and you rarely feel you're where you should be. I had "the life" and was miserable. But so much of that came from following everybody else's scripts. I was always happiest when I followed my own. Often doing the things that didn't make sense but I felt called to, or just simply made me happy. And the other thing I've found when I do that is I discover more and more of what I'm capable of. Helped give me ammo against those self-limiting beliefs when they come. I actually talk a bit about that in this week's Emotions Diary: https://karldunn.substack.com/p/give-your-dreams-your-best-friend?r=3p3c9a
Big hugs from here Lizzy. K
This is soooooooooooo good. Thank you.
Thank you Lee lee.
Ageism is alive and kicking in our modern technological age.
The insight is how do we navigate it and how do we shape it positively?
To find out more: ttps://reflexnow.substack.com/p/to-face-ageing