Being a young
professional I experience bias and prejudice often. Usually it is in comments
or initial responses when people meet me, such as ‘you are so young’ or ‘you
are the director?’ in a tone that is demeaning and suggests I am incapable. In
this incident diminishes equality because they look at my age as a factor that
I am incapable to assist them. These incidents make me feel discouraged in the
work I am doing and I feel like I am a kid again and my brother told me I could
not play with his friends because I was too little. This probably sounds silly
but it makes me feel like I am playing pretend and I should not be where I am
in my career. I feel older adults need to change their mind set that if someone
is younger than you does not mean they are not incapable or knowledgeable. I feel like everything else this will be an ongoing work in progress for many years to come.
Alysse, I can absolutely relate to your post. I am Assistant Director at a daycare and sometimes feel that folks question my abilities due to my age. When I started in my position 2 years ago some of the staff asked "who the 12 year old was" and one even said she found it "disheartening" that such a young person was hired for my position. I like to think I have proved myself at this point, but I find it unfair that folks think of me as less capable due to my age, size or appearance.
ReplyDeleteAlysse, that is very sad to hear. I do not think that you should be judged on how old you are but on how well you do your job. I had thought at one point if I were to become head of something at my age. Im considered a baby at this point but who would want to take orders from someone younger? That is the way the world is but they clearly dont think about education and experience.
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