This blog is my space. I`ve neglected it for a while for various reasons. I write a lot, my writings fill sheet after sheet of paper…..and that`s the point! I am a handwriter. Every day I bring my thoughts onto paper. And I think A LOT. Maybe nobody is interested in my writings, maybe not one person will ever read this. But. It is my place.
I don`t want to write about myself, this seems too personal. Time to introduce you to my dear friend Maria. We know each other for a long time, are of the same age and we share a lot.
Maria isn`t feeling well for a while. Not only because of the pandemic and the horrible war in Europe, all this comes on top of her problems. Actually, Maria is looking for a job. She is well educated and studied at university, she wants an interesting job and to earn enough money to live on her own. She finds job announcements and applies. But. Only rejections. Why can a qualified person not get an adequate job? Because she is a woman? Nooo, nowadays women are no longer disciminated!? Why then? SHE IS OLD. Her curriculum vitae has gaps when she cared about her family. THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD. Not enough practise. She is not familiar with the newest software, nobody has confidence in her ability to learn. Because. She is old. There are days Maria is devastated, tears of dispair flow. She cannot see a future. She is 56 years old. Too young. Too old. It breaks my heart and I want to help her. I tell her she is smart and has a lot to offer, she will find a job and she has a future. We work on her application papers. But one thing we cannot change. The date of birth.
Does age count this much? So why does life experience not count? Is the ability to learn age related or a matter of personality? Are women of a “certain age” invisble? Why must women after raising their children consider themselves satisfied with poor and lousy paid jobs? Is the uninterrupted career ladder still relevant? Is discrimination based on age real?