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I grew a beard to look older (and shaving is annoying) but every once in a while I like to go clean shaven to give my face a refresh.
And the moment I do, the amount of ageist comments I get skyrocket.
I’m nearly 33, but as soon as I shave, none of it matters.
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And the moment I do, the amount of ageist comments I get skyrocket.
I’m nearly 33, but as soon as I shave, none of it matters.
Thread
As a millennial, I’m accustomed to constantly being talked down to, but every time I shave I think about the implications for my work life.
Will they take me seriously?
Will they take me seriously?
As a rule, I try not to make any comments about people’s appearance.
Too much sexism and harassment have occurred under the guise of “compliments” and it isn’t appropriate to comment on other’s looks in general.
I think it’s good to leave that stuff aside.
Too much sexism and harassment have occurred under the guise of “compliments” and it isn’t appropriate to comment on other’s looks in general.
I think it’s good to leave that stuff aside.
And yet, every time I shave, it’s like a full week of jokes and questions.
I know this just scratches the surface of what others experience.
But every time I am reminded that in order to be taken seriously, I have to keep a beard.
I know this just scratches the surface of what others experience.
But every time I am reminded that in order to be taken seriously, I have to keep a beard.
The ageism in our communities is a problem, alongside racism, sexism, and bigotry.
Pretending otherwise is unhelpful.
Pretending otherwise is unhelpful.
For the institutions that want to improve, to be better, the answer is simple:
Empower those who you wish to attract.
You want more young people, put them in charge. More women, put them in charge. More POC, put them in charge.
Constantly putting them down won’t help that.
Empower those who you wish to attract.
You want more young people, put them in charge. More women, put them in charge. More POC, put them in charge.
Constantly putting them down won’t help that.
Let me say, lastly, that intention matters here.
Not every joke or comment is harmful and the pre-existing relationship does matter.
But as a rule, we should just stop commenting on each other’s looks.
Not every joke or comment is harmful and the pre-existing relationship does matter.
But as a rule, we should just stop commenting on each other’s looks.
I’ve already gotten “baby face” today.
