The age card

Got into a great conversation at work about this article:
http://news.discovery.com/human/nude-soap-stars-protest-ageism-110921.html

"There are only so many TV and film roles to go around, and an ever-growing population of actresses and actors wanting those roles. A casting director for a coming-of-age script (an ever-popular genre) won't call Jessica Lange, Kate Winslet, or probably even Natalie Portman."

Yeah, no ****.
-wtk

I work at an agency that has many people in the "boomer" generation that are most likely eligible for retirement, but they can't/won't due to the economy being in the tank. I like to think I'm pretty mature for my age (25), but a lot of the people I work with, and my superiors, are old enough to be my parents so they act like my opinion on things doesn't matter.

I also had a former supervisor say that I had "growing up to do" when I spoke up in a meeting about something I thought was important, although it was something that she disagreed with. Kinda glad she's not my sup anymore....

I don't think I've ever been descriminated against because of my age, but people always used to assume that I was a lot older than I really was, and that was aggravating.

Having become a mother when I was 18, I've had to shoulder a lot more responsibilities for a lot longer than most women my age, so people are always surprised to learn that I am not older.
Also, when I was heavier I looked a lot older. My hubby is 8 years my senior but people always assumed I was older than him.

Now that I'm healthy, I look closer to my age (27) and that's a pretty ambiguous age anyway - old enough to avoid the "you're too young to know anything" stigma and young enough to avoid being considered outdated.

That being said, I definitely have dealt with weight descrimination. People really do treat you differently when you are obese. It is amazing how much better I am treated by strangers and people I know now than when I was obese.

Totally, felt it..going through Nursing school... till they realized I knew more and rationalized a lot more than my peers that were older than I... especially when my patients would prefer me to give their patient care to their regular nurses..bahaha!

Although, I tend to have either younger friends or much older friends..not many my age..hahaha.. oh well.. I do like making people eat their words though!! :laugh:

All the time. I actually have people tell me to stop lying, and that I am not 29. I get hit on by 19 year old interns or even my boyfriend's students.

Mostly, people don't take me seriously because I have a young face and a very undeveloped body. I practically look like I'm still going thru puberty, even though I was done with that more than a decade ago.

At work, people will come to my office and not say anything. When I ask if they need anything, I usually get, "I am just waiting for your boss." When I say that I am who they are looking for, they usually don't believe me or think that I must've slept my way to that job because I am too young to know what I am doing. SMH.

Happens all the time!

Why yes... just today I got reprimanded on the forum for not being 60. :laugh: I'm beginning to think I'm never going to be old enough to be taken seriously as an adult.

Dangit Sunshine, I owe you an apology. I made a comment about age on a mutual friends wall. I was promptly schooled on it and realize how stupid it was. Maybe your post has nothing to do with that, but even so I'm sorry if you saw it.

I am guilty of doing this but I am learning that age does not always equal wisdom/knowledge. Your posts are very well thought out and intelligent. Great job.

My husband is 16 years older, and has a daughter 3 years younger than me. When we first started dating, a TON of people told me to leave him, or that I was just using him to get a baby, or other completely cruel things. Luckily, time has passed, (I did get pregnant, but not until 3 years later) and everyone has gotten used to our age gap. I love him so much and almost 5 years later, here we are...still together!

I'm 25 soon to be 26. In person I look maybe 18. I get rude looks all the time when I am out with my son. A few weeks ago at walmart an older man behind me said to the woman he was with. What's wrong with the youth today look at her babies having babies. I was shocked. The he goes on to say she's probably not with the father either. The woman then says while she has an engagement ring on her hand don't be so judge mental. The man's say well that's likely to end in divorce teenagers getting married and he kisses his teeth. If he hadn't been an older man i would have tore him a new one. You could imagine his face when my fiance ran in after us shortly after and he doesn't look like a teenager.