Blogpost by Elizabeth Ribons
In the conversations I have within social platforms (Clubhouse and LinkedIn), my Podcast: NEXT with Elizabeth Ribons, and with clients -I notice a commonality.
Many women have personally experienced the old stereotypes, antiquated descriptions, and outdated notions of our culture deciding that women are too old (at 42 or younger depending on the company/career- if you can believe it), not reliable because they will leave work for family and personal responsibilities, or they are "too old" to begin again or to become a business owner. And it's been happening since a large segment of women in our society began working en masse fifty years ago.
Why do women accept this? (They have had to...)
In the corporate world as compared to entrepreneurship, more often than not, women have less control over their journey, unfortunately, and are finding themselves stuck under the too familiar glass ceiling. Some are considered aged out and are let go because the company downsizes or reorganizing and often they have hit the top range of the pay scale for that department.
"It's not personal...just business", as the saying goes. But those women struggle to find similar positions and pay within other companies. Which in turn is a blow to their confidence, ability to earn, remain engaged in life and they begin to question their own relevance.
I have heard this story and helped women through this over and over.
If they are able to *Flip The Script* and reinvent themselves by finding or creating another position within the company -before they hit the glass ceiling - they stand a good chance to stay engaged and earning.
The key is, to proactively create it for themselves and be intentional about it as Debra Russell, Master Coach and NEXT Expert shares in the Podcast : Episode 19 - Powering Up Your Pivots it can be done and she has coached several executive clients through this transition.
Looking for opportunities to become indispensable and create undiscovered value takes intention - strategies and planning - to continue to remain relevant, engaged, and earning. Staying proactive and steering your future is key.
A good example is in this recent Forbes article which spotlights this underserved and powerful group of women who are not accepting this gender age-framing and norms from the past...and are mindfully staying in it- creating better outcomes for themselves.
"I knew my age and experience made me stronger, wiser, and better—and I was determined not to be tossed aside."
Women are carving out niche's within the corporate environment and blazing trails in creating businesses. They are wise, powerful, experienced and are leveraging those qualities and their network to create the pinnacle of their careers rather than accepting old stereotypes and bowing out. This current generation of "midlife" women are blazing a trail for women coming up.
By not accepting this bias and intentionally designing their journeys, they are not just "having a moment" they are quite possibly the most powerful segment of women in the workforce and business - now and going forward.
But we must be intentional and create it for ourselves.
Many are starting businesses of their own. In fact, in recent studies, women age 45 plus are the largest segment of successful new businesses today. It makes sense and provides a trajectory for their next chapter.
Deborah Daniel, CPA, Business Consultant, and NEXT expert commented on Episode 31:
"Entrepreneurship is the ultimate glass ceiling breaker for women.."
But we must take responsibility on both sides of the fence.
We have to decide if we will accept the stereotypes or prove them wrong. For so long the push back has been too difficult - insurmountable even- and women have sadly accepted their fates. But now, we are seeing those who are not accepting it and staying proactively involved to continue to create their NEXT.
Each step forward is hard-won but is making a difference for us all.
Let me leave you with this in mind. As portrayed in the movie: "On The Basis Of Sex" Ruth Bader Ginsberg was becoming weary of the struggle and started accepting the stereotypes and norms in the '70s when her young adult daughter called her out on it and that ultimately changed her focus. It happens to the strongest of women...We have to be proactive.
Stay ahead of it. Be intentional. Create your next.
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