From our beginning, Women's Connection members have had a powerful visceral reaction to anything that feels like ageism.
There's a good reason for that. Ageism—defined as prejudice and discrimination based merely on age—has a hugely negative effect on the health and well-being of millions of people. It erodes a sense of solidarity within our society. It has far-reaching economic consequences as well. You can learn more in a recent report from the World Health Organization HERE.
Like other "isms," ageism carries the weight of judgment, exclusion and systemic bias. It's so loaded that it often shuts down conversation rather than opening it up. This is a shame in my view, because in avoiding the topic we risk missing a deeper truth: that age shapes our experiences, our perspectives and our contributions in ways that are not only different but are often deeply enriching.
Women's Connection members range in age from 50 to over 100—multiple generations. With some impressive exceptions, we haven't done a great job of embracing the opportunities this wide age spectrum offers. When age differences show up, our first impulse is to assume that because we renounce ageism we should treat everyone exactly the same.
This has never made sense to me. While it's true that many of our interests remain the same as we travel through time, we also go through transitions that are unique to specific life stages. Our contributions to the Women's Connection community evolve as well. Younger women bring new energy, fresh ideas and a long view on today's challenges. Older members bring hard-won wisdom, resilience and perspective. All of this is an important part of the mix. We need it all.
So here's my idea: What if instead of avoiding the topic of age and insisting on a "one size fits all" approach, we make a focused effort to view our differences through the lens of curiosity and understanding? What if we look openly and honestly at how life stage differences present themselves and use this knowledge to make our community even stronger?
I would like to explore the opportunities this type of inquiry might present. Roni Buckley, who leads the Coast to Coast chapter, has agreed to partner with me. Please let me know if you would like to participate in some conversations we'll be organizing in the next few months.
Every generation within Women's Connection has something extremely valuable to offer. I believe that beauty lies in noticing the gifts that each of us brings—not despite our age, but because of it.
With appreciation and respect,
Darla
Darla Hastings
Executive Director