#BreaktheBias of Ageism & Stereotypes IWD 2022

International Women’s Day in 2022 is Tuesday 8th March. In recent years I’ve run the International Women’s Day Run in support of women but this year, Queensland has suffered it’s worse floods in 11 years and the streets and homes are still in ‘clean up’ mode. Although I’ve not been personally affected, there are many who have lost everything and so I dedicate this International Women’s Day to those women who just keep getting back up and on with the job no matter what life throws at them.

In this week’s Micro Mondays episode of the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast, I’m sharing ways we can all #breakthebias, challenge stereotypes and live life on our terms.

What is International Women’s Day

The first gathering was in 1911 and is celebrated each year on March 8th. A global celebration of social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. A day to raise awareness of women’s achievements, raise awareness of women’s equality, fundraise for female-focused charities.

Each year there is a theme and the theme for this year’s IWD is #BreaktheBias Imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.

A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together we can forge women’s equality.

Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Source: International Women’s Day 2022 Website

What does #BreaktheBias mean to me?

My passion is to work with Women 50+ to be pro-active about positive aging. To help them recognise their individuality and that by Living Life their Way, they can lead happy and fulfilled lives. Our age does not determine how we live our life. Our age should not be a barrier to doing what we want to do and achieve.

I work and contribute to #breakthebias by introducing and encouraging Women Over 50 to share their story with me in conversation for the Women Living Well After 50 Podcast.

Ageism does exist! I see it in the workplace, in life in general and in social media and many are influenced by this. How often do we see a meme on Facebook of a grandmother who is white-haired, stooped and in their later years? I am a grandmother and at almost 65 I certainly do not look or act like that. We see women passed over for promotion. We see women being ignored as they age.

But we can do something about it!

We need to #breakthebias against ageing and stereotyping older women. There are many older women getting out there, living life, starting businesses, going back to study and not sitting back waiting for life to pass them by. In a recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald we were introduced to ‘Edna who, at 100 takes 5 fitness classes a week’

We need to #breakthebias of making Women feel ‘less’ by not encouraging them to live life their way and not what society dictates.

We need to #breakthebias of having a ‘used by date’ especially in our careers. A woman who has experienced life has so much wisdom to share and this still needs to be recognised and promoted.

How can You #BreaktheBias?

You don’t have to be a large organisation or a social media influencer with millions of followers.

YOU CAN #BREAKTHEBIAS in your own world.

• Set an example to family and friends,, workplace and community by being inclusive of others, being non-judgemental, being accepting and living without bias
• Change the way you think and express yourself – are you adding to the bias?
• Support women of all ages to achieve their goals
• Be informed about gender inequality
• Take control of your health and well-being. Last year I was interviewed for an article in a National Newspaper. The topic was how women 50+ feel about the medical profession and were their needs being listened to and met. The British Heart Foundation’s briefing, ‘Bias and Biology’, revealed that:

• women are less likely to recognise symptoms of a heart attack than men
• a woman is 50% more likely than a man to receive the wrong diagnosis
• women are less likely than men to receive life saving treatments
• women are less likely to be given medicine to stop a second heart attack

• Have the courage to share your thoughts and encourage others to do the same.
• Have the courage to live your truth, trust your instincts and not be dictated to by societal norms and pre-conceived ideas of who you should be.

In a recent Women Living Well After 50 podcast episode with my guest, Annette Simmons, author of Drinking from a Different Well How Women’s Stories Change What Power Means in Action. We discussed 5 key steps Trusting your instincts, Finding Your Power and Telling Your story.

Women often face the systematic erasure of their perspective and stories — told they’re being “difficult” or “irrational.” But women deserve to be listened to — and need ways to resist being shut down.

Why it matters: Women’s wisdom and ability to see the bigger picture is a powerful force. They often see things in a moral context — and that’s a vital balance to the competitive systems that tend to drive too many decisions.

Annette Simmons

This fits well with the IWD #BreaktheBias theme. If you missed the episode you can take a listen

What will you do to #BreaktheBias? Will you live your truth?