Issues faced by Women – Sexism, Ageism and more..

Yes, Sexism STILL exists as we approach the year 2024.  

What's Sexism?

If you are living under a rock and are unaware of what sexism is, it is a prejudice or discrimination based on one's sex, which stems from an ideology that one sex is superior to the other. Sounds like a familiar situation, right? Many women experience this at some point in their life.  

That being problematic enough for us, there is another concept called gendered ageism that many are experiencing and now have started to voice their concerns as well as dissatisfaction about.

I have seen all the women around me facing this time and again. But you know what’s worse? They do not realize it is wrong and majorly even term it as something that is “normal”.  

“Aise hi hota hai (This is how it is supposed to be)”, is something that I have heard almost every time I express my disappointment towards the gender norms our society has upheld. I have grown up seeing this bias all my life and as I start to understand life as well as society a bit more, I have realized it is not just our gender that is the concern but also our age. Too young? Too old? Or is it just because we are women that we are always subjected to opinions of society.

What's Ageism?

As women get older, there is something called gendered ageism that we MUST experience. Gendered ageism is the discrimination that is faced due to age. Research has only just begun to investigate how age is used to justify bias and discrimination specifically against women. Gendered ageism sits at the intersection of age and gender bias and is a double curse where they say there is “no right age” for professional women. But is it restricted only to the work setting?  

I am afraid not!

Women should be nurturers. Especially older women. Right? And as for younger women, there's this expectation that we should be married and wanting to have kids by a certain age. We should have all of these goals that are centered on nurturing and caring for people. If there is someone who does not want to have kids, her values might be questioned, and some might even be name-called. The list of expectations never ends or reduces as we age. In fact, in majority of cases, expectations may increase. Many women hence restrict themselves to fit into these roles designed for them by our society. Letting go of dreams, desires, and sometimes even self-respect. I have seen how my mother is told things and is given “advise” on how to live as well as forgive because as a woman that is what is supposed to be done.  

Ageism persists in society because people tend to see it as nothing but deterioration and decline, says gerontologist Jeanette Leardi. She also says “Yes, we lose certain capacities of short-term memory and speed of processing, how fast we can react to certain things, but we actually gain other skills that we couldn't possibly get when we were younger.”

"Jeanette Leardi" points to the example of how both sides of our brain are connected by a tissue called the corpus callosum that matures as people age and by the time we reach our 50s, it allows them to use both sides of their brain simultaneously more often.  

The Sexism Impact on the new Generation

There is so much that this generation is learning out of all of this bias. Many daughters who have seen their mothers struggle and are desperately trying to escape the same cycle. This desperate attempt may lead to them developing hyper-independence: a trauma response. It is characterized by an individual's excessive self-reliance and avoidance of seeking help and can stem from past, often pervasive, traumatic experiences. So gendered ageism not only affects the individual who has been experiencing it but also those around them whether directly or indirectly.  

Thus, we need to introspect and be aware of how we feel about aging. If we have a negative viewpoint about getting old, then it will definitely affect the way we see the world and interact with those around us. Secondly, be brave and stand up for yourself. If situations come up where you feel like you are being wronged or put down, learn to communicate your boundaries assertively while you continue working towards your ideal self.  

Conclusion  

It surely can be confusing, overwhelming and numerous other emotions. But always remember that age is just a number unless you are unable to see past it. If you feel you are unable to cope with the challenges life as well as our society is throwing at you, don't panic, we at Transform Happily are here to help nudge you towards a more aware you.