Embracing Age Over Ageism

Jenni Prisk, founder of Prisk Communication, is a guest contributor for the United State of Women

Since I recently turned 70, I find myself reviewing my life. Was I really a baby, then a toddler, a child, a teenager, and ultimately a woman? Where did those seven decades go? Who am I and what have I learned? How much of the “me” today was forming in the “me” of yesterday? How have my experiences shaped what I have to give and share?

As a young girl, I wrote short plays and performed them for my long-suffering parents. As a diffident, abused teenager I took to the stage in high school to escape from the real world. At 21, I left my native country of New Zealand on a ship and toured England and Europe where I played, worked, and made discoveries for three years. When I turned 40, I started my speaking and training business. In my fifties, I founded a nonprofit that empowered women and girls. In my sixth decade, I chaired commissions for women both locally and statewide. Now at 70, I’m finding inner-peace, self-knowledge, and unexpected vigor! I’m now a theatre critic. I travel extensively and live in two countries. I’m still a speech coach, and my greatest passion is empowering women to speak up and be heard.

Why am I sharing all this with you? I have experiences to pass on to others, especially women. You do, too. You have lived a life that is full and rich with adventures and wisdom. Women of your own decade and younger women yearn to learn from you. Your influence is invaluable. And if you need a reminders, here they are:

Your Education

You may have a science degree or a marketing degree or a degree in nursing, or you’re a doctor, lecturer, teacher, or business owner. Do you share these tangible proficiencies with the younger ones in your life? Chances are they don’t even know you have letters after your name, nor do they understand the struggles you overcame to stand at the top of your field.

Do they know that you shared campus life, late nights, early mornings, crammed for finals, shared copious coffee klatches, and the thrill (or despair) of exam results?

Perhaps you never had those opportunities. Maybe you learned by doing and found growth without a degree. (That was my path.) Your insight is equally valid and worthy of sharing. Does your circle know about the nights you spent pouring over bills, the extra shifts you had to pick up to support your family, or that you combed through the newspaper searching for opportunities as you rode the bus to work?

No matter how you found self-betterment, you have an indisputable education. And you should be proud. What a world of mentoring you can provide! Tell the people in your life about your experiences—hardships and triumphs alike. Uplift, teach, and support the women in your life by sharing the lessons you’ve learned.

Your Resilience:

There’s not a woman reading this who hasn’t been put down, fallen over, cried over the dishes, been hurt, felt overlooked, been dropped, drunk too much, or called out to the universe about her place in it. And look where you are today! You are strong; you are resilient; you are unbreakable. Those gentle lines around your eyes and mouth have been earned from those years of living, learning, and laughing. Without knowing it, you share the wisdom you’ve gained with those who matter to you as you guide them through their growth pangs. You became an icon in their eyes because you lived, lost, and won gracefully. Never forget what you are to others: a role model, a mentor, a confidant, a friend. Even in small ways we impact and improve the lives of those around us by letting them know how human we are. If a woman is losing her grip on hope, don’t offer sympathy. Grab her hand and pull her up. When a woman expresses self-doubt, take her to a mirror and let her see how amazing she is. If she’s uncertain of her path, walk some of it with her.

Your Voice:

One of the glorious things about ageing is that we become more comfortable speaking up. We have learned how to say things that matter and to fight for the things that matter more. I’ve always been a volunteer, but now I’m doing more work in the community and for women than I’ve done in years. Just last year I became an Ambassador for the United State of Women.

Do you watch or read the news and seethe? Do you grieve about the plight of girls around the globe who cannot get an education? Do you see female politicians being slandered for their forthright opinions? Do you get mad when the lawmakers want to take away your rights? You can do something about these things. You can write letters to your newspaper! You can talk it up on social media! You can share your thoughts with friends and colleagues! You can join (or found) an organization that will utilize your skills and your wisdom! You have a lifetime of knowledge and understanding to share.

We need to be mindful of age discrimination and remember what we can learn from the women who have been fighting to secure our rights for generations. Let’s collectively reject ageism. This “cult” is an unhealthy scourge that suppresses the wealth of talent that older (people) women possess. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018 released this statement: Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%. The rest of the population had better get used to us; we’re not going away anytime soon!

So, get together with the WAGs (Women Ageing Gracefully) in your neighborhood or place of business, talk up your talents, share your successes, and celebrate your accolades. Form an organization with the goal of imparting your knowledge and life experiences to those who will benefit. You are a presence, and you matter! In the words of our former First Lady, Michelle Obama, “You have become!”

The United State of Women is proud to have a powerful and engaged barrier-breaker like Jenni Prisk as one of our Ambassadors. The USOW Ambassador Program is an opportunity for current and future leaders passionate about improving gender equity, no matter their background or previous experience. Our team ensures that Ambassadors have the tools, resources, connections, and support they need to tell the story of women’s power and make a measurable change in their communities. Join Jenni and the rest of the inaugural cohort of Ambassadors that have taken action to build more equitable communities across the United States. Applications are now open through Sunday, April 28th for the 2019-20 USOW Ambassador Program! Apply or nominate a friend today!