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The majority of women say they are afraid to grow old. These fears are not only about dying or age-related diseases\u2014with the idealization of youth, many women worry about what aging means for their mental health, career, and personal life, according to a recent survey <\/a>from Luvly, a face yoga, skincare, and wellness platform.<\/p>\n The fears aren\u2019t new, though, as women, in particular, have been the target of society\u2019s long-held obsession with how old people look.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a much higher bar for women to appear younger,\u201d Heather Tinsley-Fix, a senior advisor of employee engagement at the AARP, previously told Fortune<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n In the survey of about 2,000 women aged 30 and up, 12% fear that getting old will lead to societal neglect, and 11% fear it will lead to loneliness and isolation. Over half, 66%, of the women find dating more difficult with age. One in 10 women call dating impossible, and one in four have declined a social invitation because of their age.\u00a0<\/p>\n The results echo past research illustrating pervasive age discrimination<\/a> at work. This survey found one in six women has faced ageism at work, such as getting denied a promotion or job. All of these factors impact overall well-being, as 41% of women say aging affects their mental health, with some saying it contributes to their anxiety or depression.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFor many, the fear of aging stems from the thought of being shunned from society and left all alone,\u201d says Marina Klimenka, cofounder of Luvly. \u201cIt isn\u2019t on women to learn to ignore their insecurities. It\u2019s on society to remove the issues causing them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Challenging ageist narratives at work should come from the top, such as offering flexible work policies for older adults like caregiving benefits and providing age-inclusive training for hiring managers, Klimenka says. As more people delay retirement, companies must foster an age-inclusive environment<\/a> that values seasoned workers\u2019 wisdom, problem-solving skills, and mentoring capacity, workplace experts tell Fortune<\/em>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality is, you don\u2019t suddenly lose your ability to function the day you turn 50,\u201d Klimenka says. \u201cMany [women] continue working into their later years and offer just as much as their younger colleagues if not more. If we can get rid of such biases, aging would be far less of a worry for many women.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Outside of work, it\u2019s also about shifting cultural messages that equate beauty with youthfulness and youthfulness with worthiness.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are some signs of positive change in how we talk about aging.\u00a0<\/p>\n Contestants flocked to ABC\u2019s inaugural Golden Bachelor <\/em>to illustrate that dating isn\u2019t just for the young. Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, 63, regularly challenges the trope that women her age are beyond their prime. In a podcast series called Wiser Than Me<\/em><\/a>, the Seinfeld<\/em> star talks with celebrated women about the unique wisdom they are gaining in their older years, such as Jane Fonda\u2019s perspective on how aging isn\u2019t as scary when you\u2019re actually in it and feeling your happiest (she\u2019s 86). In a recent profile in the New York Times<\/em><\/a>, Louis-Dreyfus discussed how she\u2019s excited for what her golden years will bring.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u200b\u200bIt seems like more and more is possible. I\u2019m excited to try new things work-wise. I\u2019m excited to travel places and read books I haven\u2019t read,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n As more people embrace the realities of getting older, people may be more comfortable showing up for others and staying connected\u2014a critical component in aging well.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure the older ones among us have a few more good stories to tell than their fresh-faced friends and family,\u201d Klimenka says. \u201cSo embrace it. Share your wisdom, and show everyone that growing old isn\u2019t so bad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Still, the onus rests on shifting cultural and systematic attitudes in and out of the workplace to create a safe environment for aging well.<\/p>\n For more on combating ageism:\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nChanging the narrative on the golden years \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to embrace aging\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n