Silicon Valley men are starting to care about ageism

[goldengirlz]

Part of me says “boo hoo, guys,” but I have to admit this article spoke to me.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/01/09/silicon-valley-some-men-say-cosmetic-procedures-are-essential-career/%3foutputType=amp

(The world is on fire — literally and figuratively — so I thought we could use a dose of schadenfreude at tech’s ridiculousness.)

[SusanBAnthony]

My initial comment is wah wah.

My next comment is that as an engineer I can see anecdotally how many many many engineers lose their technical edge and ability/desire to learn new tech as they age. But frankly we get paid enough that we ought to be saving and planning to retire early.

Now I will go read the article.

ETA: hahaha should have read it first.

I'm still in the cry me a river camp. They benefited hugely from this system so cry me a river now.

[bears]

I read about half of it and it started making me anxious. I realize that so much of how you are perceived professionally is looks. It drives my clothing choices, hairstyling, makeup, as well as my exercise routine. Why not as Botox or some plastic surgery into the mix?

[goldengirlz]

I agree with the plastic surgeon who said that it’s “ironic” that these men care so much about this issue when they were the very ones who built this boys’ club and worshipped youth.

But as an “older” (mid-30s!!) woman in Silicon Valley, this article is spot-on. Because as true as it is for men, it’s 10x truer for women. I know a bunch of older men in tech — cool guys with edgy clothes and tattoos. But comparatively few older women, particularly at my level. (I don’t really count the Sheryl Sandberg types — the handful of very well-known older women in the c-suite — as true role models, meaning ones I can look at to model my career after ... which is not to take anything away from their accomplishments.)

The truism to never, ever let them know how old you are ... it’s real.