Emma Caplan-Fisher of The Honest Talk talked with Hirsh Spence and writes, “…it’s easy to internalize the idea that success has an expiry date…At 76, Hirsh Spence isn’t retired like some 90 per cent of other Canadians in their seventies. Instead, she’s busy redefining what growth, contribution and relevance look like in later life.” Many women are channeling decades of experience into new forms of leadership, mentorship and impact into their later years.
While attending a professional conference recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with colleagues whom I haven’t seen in a long time. Since I only see many of these colleagues at this annual event, chatter about work, family, and health is at the forefront. At this particular conference, my ear was especially tuned in to what I call #AgeSpeak. I define it as any phrase or comment that makes a reference to a person’s age that perpetuates ageism.
I’m continually learning to be cautious about the terms I use when talking with others. For instance, I didn’t realize that my use of the word “generation”, or “generational” was often unhelpful or counterproductive. Why? Because it implies inherent differences that tend to “other” generations.
With an upcoming election, it is surprising that so little attention is being given to how ageism undermines the value, potential, and vital contributions of Canada’s older generations: the generations, who incidentally are those who always come out to vote.