I am honored to win the 2016 Community Media Rika Welch leadership award for community impact; a testimony to the Guests who shared their stories on MidLIFE Matters. In addition, an 2018 interview I did with Judith Altmann, a Holocaust Survivor, won an award. In 2020 and 2021 two other awards acknowledged the content of interviews dealing with Child Sex Trafficking in CT and Non-Profit leadership. In 2023 MidLIFE Matters won First Place for a Profile Talk Show.Call to Arms - Working Women 55+
Monday, January 24, 2011 at 10:15AM Lies, damned lies, and statistics aside, there is compelling evidence that older women are an endangered species in this dreadful job market. By older, we mean first-generation American women who were liberated from the kitchen and welcomed at grad school. Women who became role models for running meetings while their kids were throwing up at day care. And we won't go into those awful man-suits with floppy bow ties.
Women aged 55 and over are almost 20% of the female work force, slightly outnumber their male counterparts, and about 40% of them are in management, professional and related occupations. Or, at least they were in 2008, before the market crashed.
They can expect to live another 20+ years, and many need (and want) to keep working --in this way they are equal to men, only their retirement funds are more anemic. Rome was not built in a day, and push come to shove, women were more likely to sacrifice long term career security to keep the home fires burning.
The concept of a glass ceiling is as quaint as a glasss slipper for these ladies --they can't even get a foot in the door. In 2006, 25% of employers surveyed admitted they were reluctant to hire older workers -- since that sentiment was assuredly under-reported to be begin with, today women over 55 are un-invited on a grand scale.
Fortunately, this pioneer group has unprecedented education, experience and survivor instincts --not to mention purchasing power. We are a small band of women who are looking to inspire older working women to fight back, support one another, and continue to set records in the workplace. While as individuals we may be unemployed or underemployed, we know we can summon strength from our sisters-in-arms.
PLEASE POST A COMMENT IF YOU ARE OPEN TO HELPING OTHER 55+ WOMEN KEEP WORKING!
Reader Comments (3)
Georgian, thank you for putting a stake in the sand. I especially relate to the statement about survivor instincts. As you said, we are educated and we have experience. I call that practice wisdom. I would not have achieved my personal and professional goals without the support of my sisters over the years. I would go so far as to say I have an unwritten covenant to support other women who are reinventing themselves, or trying to do the work they love.
Our strengths will continue to serve us well in this economy and job market. Helen Fisher, author of The First Sex wrote that women tend to value inclusion, collaboration, and consensus. Women also tend to be intuitive, able to think contextually and assimilate large chunks of data; women tend to think in webs of interrelated factors, or web thinking. I think it is strength to have this broader view. For example, it is important that we learn about social media, understand the power of this tool, and share this knowledge with each other, so we won’t be out or left behind in the job market. We are smart enough to understand the consequences of not getting with the program: “you can’t win if you don’t play”.
Thanks, Sue, for the concise, informed statement of support. We all will benefit by sticking together, while honoring our differences. Georgian
Our office is having a Women's Career Day this Friday, December 2 at 7 p m Anyone interested is invited by R.S.V.P 203 265 2904 or 203 848 7591. Discussing career opportunities, how to work as independent consultant, and how to start own business. Take control and have flexibility in your life. PRIMERICA 101 North Plains Industrial Road, Bldg 1B, Wallingford, CT 06492