Around 80% of women worldwide face ageism in the workplace, a new survey has revealed.
According to the study carried out by Women of Influence+, 77.8% of women have encountered age-related discrimination in their careers, underscoring ageism as a critical yet often overlooked barrier to professional growth. Ageism is a form of discrimination and prejudice that is directed towards individuals or groups based on their age.
Not only does ageism exist, but it is also more visible than we may want to believe. Sadly, more than 80% have witnessed women in the workplace being treated differently because of their age. And almost half (46.2%) report it to be an ongoing issue.
Ageism is overwhelmingly present in workplaces across the globe, according to Women of Influence+, the global organisation committed to advancing gender equity in the workplace. This social construct often leads to stereotyping and generalising people based on their chronological age, regardless of their individual capabilities, experiences, or personal attributes, noted the report, entitled Exploring the Impact of Ageism on Women in the Workplace. It can negatively impact individuals at all stages of their careers, leading to unfair treatment, limited opportunities, and marginalisation.
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF AGEISM
“I have never heard comments about male colleagues being too young or too old for their work,” said one respondent. “Women are either too young, too old, or may be in the age range of having children. All are viewed as negative.”
While we often think of ageism as something that impacts people in the latter years of their careers, the reality is ageism can have negative implications at all ages and stages. The data revealed notable peaks in the initial decade of work and later years:
- 40.7% of respondents experienced age-based discrimination within the first decade of their professional journey.
- More than half (55.9%) encountered ageism after surpassing 21 years in their career.
WHY AGEISM AFFECTS WOMEN MORE THAN MEN
Survey participants expressed that age is often inappropriately correlated with perceived performance and success; a bias that disproportionately affects women. Highlighting this gender disparity, one respondent observed, “Women are never the right age. We are either ‘going to get pregnant’ or ‘too old’.” This reflects a societal tendency to place undue expectations on women.
According to feedback from respondents, the disparity is further emphasised in contrast to older men, who respondents say are often viewed as ‘distinguished’ or ‘very experienced’. In comparison, older women may be unfairly seen as being ‘past their prime’ or occupying opportunities ‘better suited to others’. This observation feeds into the broader narrative that workplaces perpetuate ageism, especially against women. “Workplaces were built for men,” said one respondent. Another shared, “The old boys’ network still exists.” And a third added, “It is a carryover from the age-old belief [that] women should not be in the workplace.”
Furthermore, the survey reveals that the perpetrators of ageism span all levels of seniority, implicating the HR department, co-workers, clients, managers, and executives. Respondents highlighted recruiters as another group frequently engaging in age-based discrimination.
HOW AGEISM MANIFESTS IN THE WORKPLACE
Ageism in the workplace manifests in various forms.
- Almost 80 % reported experiencing age-based stereotypes and/or assumptions.
- Just more than half of respondents (50.1%) said they were shown a lack of respect from colleagues.
- Almost half of respondents (49%) reported unfair treatment in promotion processes.
“I have white hair and I have been advised to colour my hair to make me look younger as it may help me secure employment,” said one respondent. “This comment came from an HR Professional.”
STEREOTYPES & BIAS
Women also face stereotypical assumptions about their capabilities with technology and adaptability. Beyond these tangible impacts, ageism can be detrimental to a woman’s overall sense of self and wellbeing and can have significant personal repercussions. Whether it’s taking steps to appear younger or older, women are often forced to make changes to themselves to look like they’re the “right age” for a job. This is often referred to as the “pink tax” – the money and time women spend on physical enhancements to meet societal expectations.
Personally, women experienced the following:
- Increased stress as a result of experiencing ageism was reported by 62.2% of respondents.
- Second-guessing capabilities was reported by 61.8% of respondents.
- Almost 60% (59.3%) shared they overcompensated or worked harder to prove their worth.
- More than half (55%) said they experienced lower self-confidence as a result of age-based discrimination.
Professionally, women also report significant impacts when it comes to ageism, such as:
- Almost 60% (57.7%) reported impaired career progression.
- More than half (52.1%) reported a lack of sense of belonging at work.
- More than 50% (50.9%) reported experiencing dissatisfaction with their employer.
AGEISM & INTERSECTIONALITY
The impact of age intersects with other facets of a person’s identity, such as race, ability, and gender. Intersectionality can compound the negative effects of ageism, and respondents are noticing this in their workplaces. In fact seven in 10 respondents (69.2%) believe ageism disproportionately affects women. One respondent shared, “Ageism is so intertwined with sexism, so it is hard to separate the two.”
Survey participants believe that ageism can unfairly impact women of colour. As one respondent commented: “Ageism is proportionally much higher for racialised women.” Another noted that: “The perfect age in the workplace for a woman is a perpetual 34-years-old. But that’s too young to be in the C-suite or in a senior position. Women of colour need to be older, but still look full of vitality.”
“Nearly 80% of women encountering ageism in the workplace is not just a statistic; it’s a clear indication that we are facing a pervasive and systemic issue,” stated Dr Rumeet Billan, CEO, Women of Influence+. “Our survey sheds light on the hidden barriers many self-identifying women face, that not only hinder their career progression but also impact their confidence and well-being.”
TIME FOR ACTION AGAINST AGEISM
“The findings of our survey are a call to action — it’s time for systemic change,” said Dr. Billan. “We must collectively work towards creating environments where age does not define capability or limit opportunity. Our commitment at Women of Influence+ is to continue advocating for and supporting these necessary changes.”
Here are five actionable steps organisations can take to stamp out ageism at work:
Raise awareness and provide training and education.
The first step is to accept that ageism is a real issue and is having more of a significant impact than we think. “Recognise it and name it,” said one respondent. From recognition comes action. “Educate employees,” said another. “Provide training and workshops to raise awareness about ageism and its impact on individuals and the organisation. Help employees recognise and challenge ageist stereotypes and biases.”
Implement preventative policies and hold people accountable.
Armed with the knowledge that ageism exists, the next step is to put policies into place and adhere to them. “Understand that a policy only translates to action if it’s proactively applied by senior people in an organization,” said one individual surveyed. “You can have the best policies in the world, but it can still be awful for people in practice if you have inadequate or poorly trained managers who don’t think discrimination is a big deal,” shared another respondent. A policy is only as good as the action that follows.
Develop reciprocal mentorship programmes.
A call for mentorship as a solution to ageism came through loud and clear. “Have mentorship programs to ensure both ends of the spectrum can learn from each other and respect each other,” said one individual. The key, said another, is “connecting on a human level to learn about different experiences.” Another respondent shared, “The C-suite needs to create a culture of multigenerational employees and mentorship for ageism to become irrelevant.”
Focus on competencies over age when recruiting and hiring.
What we heard repeatedly is that professionals want to be recognized for their abilities rather than their age or years of experience. It’s time to look past these distracting numbers and seek out examples of success instead. “Start looking at talent, knowledge, and wisdom rather than ‘years of experience’ to prove that a candidate is valuable or worthy of a position,” said a respondent. Individuals urge employers to restructure the hiring process by “seek[ing] skills over stereotypes.”
Include ageism as a part of DEI strategy, initiatives, and programmes.
The need for ageism to be included as a pillar of DEI was agreed upon by respondents across the board. “Ageism can be as damaging as racism and sexism and should be recognized as such,” said a respondent. Another added: “It seldom forms part of DEI programmes or anti-bias training.” The call for action was clear: “Truly walk the talk about diversity and inclusion.
AGEISM AT WORK
The survey demonstrates that age-based discrimination is an issue impacting women in the workplace across countries, organizations, industries, and sectors. No organisation or individual is immune to it. Conducted between January and February 2024, the survey received responses from more than 1,250 women across 46 countries, spanning various industries. The survey explores the nuances of ageism and its impact on women in the workplace.
Download the white paper here.
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