I used to judge women for hiding their age – until my own age was used against me
In her 20s, the writer thought keeping your age private was silly. Now, she understands why some women choose to do so: Revealing your age can give people a reason to judge your work, appearance and relevance before they know you.
The author once believed it was silly to keep one's age private, but now understands why some women choose to do so. Revealing age can give people a reason to judge a person's work, appearance, and relevance before knowing them. In her early 40s, the author faced judgment because her age was assumed to make her stuffy and stern, despite her being one of the younger managers.
This experience made her realize the irony of working within a system that creates age anxiety, while also celebrating accomplished women. She reflects on how she once judged women for not revealing their age, only to later understand the pressure behind it. The author also discusses how age affects perceptions of credibility and relevance in professional settings, as well as the societal pressure on women to maintain a youthful appearance.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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