There are standard stereotypes that woman still face, whether they like to admit it or not.
- Employers believe that we will eventually want to start a family, or have more children
- Often, women are judged more harshly when voicing their opinions
- As women, we are expected to have good soft skills
- If we are married, we don’t need to command the same salary level as our male counterparts since we are likely not the primary household income
- Unbelievably, women are still judged more on their looks than men
Add to that, there are stereotypes that woman over 50 face as well:
- We are set in their ways and do not react well to change
- A mature woman is just looking for a job to camp out in until she retires; she isn’t going to work to effect positive change but only to maintain the status quo
- Our skills are likely not up to speed with how businesses operate today (e-commerce, social media, global partnerships)
So, how do you make certain you don’t get looked at as a stereotype? Younger woman may take issues with what I am about to say, but remember: I am taking the lessons I have learned and reaching out to a different audience. If you are over 50 you can actually use the stereotypes younger woman face to your advantage:
- You will not be going on maternity leave.
- You will not come back from maternity leave only to quit 90 days later when you realize you can’t leave your child in daycare or it is cheaper for you to stay home than it is to work. Your children are in high school, college, or they are out on their own by now.
- You don’t need to leave work early to pick your child up from school, or stay at home with your child when they are sick. You have the freedom to come in early and stay late, if needed.
Voicing your opinion at 54 should carry more weight than voicing your opinion at 24 – you have knowledge and experience. Ambition is not a bad thing. Backing up your opinion with real life experiences will always carry more weight with anyone who is truly listening.
There is no reason why you cannot communicate that you are single, or that you and your partner play equal roles within your family unit. While a hiring manager cannot ask the question outright, slip it into the conversation relative to your need to fulfill your potential and your desire to help their business grow and thrive. The benefit: the message is you are looking to fulfill your potential and add value to their organization, as opposed to a goal of looking for supplemental income to cover expenses.
Men learn to hide fear and lack of confidence at an early age. Girls often don’t learn those skills until later on in life. We tend to be more concerned about being liked than being strong. A 24-year-old woman out of college simply cannot convey the same level of strength and confidence as a 54-year-old woman with 30 years of experience in the business world.
Judging candidates on physical attributes can be a problem. While we would hope it no longer has any bearing, an articulate and good looking 34 year old is likely going to get a second look before an articulate 54 year old. But – and this is the great part! – you can also turn this into a positive (more on that in future postings).
In addition, you (and only you) are in control of whether or not the stereotypes of middle-age women truly apply to you. Isn’t feeling in control of our destiny something we all need when looking for that next position? You can do it – be strong!
