Sexism, ageism and inclusivity: why what your staff are saying about Madonna matters

The women, especially the older women, in your organisation, are taking note about how Madonna is being spoken about after her appearance at The Grammy's. 

Madonna has chosen to have plenty of cosmetic treatment on her face to keep up a youthful appearance, and commentary globally has completely slated her for it since Sunday. 

You cannot open a magazine or app without an abundance of ads and features for anti-aging products and gossipy articles about famous women's looks. Here's the message this emits: it is completely unacceptable to look too old, too big, too wrinkled, too grey...do something about it or you'll be ridiculed and discarded. The ageist pressure on women, especially women in the public eye, not to look older, is intense. 

Men do not face this criticism, scrutiny or shaming for ageing. Quite the opposite most of the time; men can be seen as more valuable as they age, in looks, experience and appeal - it's a big compliment to be called a 'silver fox.'

How do you want the more women in your organisation to feel about themselves as they age? Valued, appreciated and respected, as though they very much still belong, and are welcome in the organisation regardless of how age impacts their physical appearance. 

Surely not as if they have to take expensive, time consuming and sometimes dangerous measures to keep their youthful looks BUT DON'T GO TO FAR or you'll be a laughing stock and an outcast. 

Harmful stereotypes of older women have a lot to answer for, not least in the way they work to cause younger women to go to great lengths, expense and sometimes danger not to appear older. 

The government has been pushing the idea of enticing older workers back to the workplace. Stigma around ageing, women's perceived decrease in value as we age, and of course menopause related challenges, are a real barrier for women. 

How can your organisation truly be somewhere that values and retains women? Not ridiculing women's efforts to stay young when societal pressure constantly tells them they must, and not adding to this pressure, is just the start. Speak up if you hear this happening. Call it out. Send a clear message of allyship and inclusion. 

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