Aging is a woman's secret power -- and the data proves it

This advantage isn’t simply a feel-good rallying cry to give older women a self-esteem boost, but based on qualities and traits they develop over time.


By Jeannette McClennan, co-founder and president of the digital innovation firm McClennan Masson

In less than 15 years, people aged 65 and up will outnumber those 18 and under for the first time in U.S. history. This major demographic shift presents a good opportunity for reevaluating our stereotypes and negative assumptions about getting older. Aging comes for us all, so it’s time to tune into its upsides, particularly for women.

Right now, older women face a double challenge of ageism and sexism, and a common response to these obstacles is to feel uncomfortable as one ages and try to hide it to the extent possible. But in fact, being older is a tremendous advantage for many women, particularly women in leadership positions. As our society shifts toward an older workforce, it’s extremely important for women to embrace their age — to both spare themselves unnecessary grief and to reach their greatest potential.

This advantage isn’t simply a feel-good rallying cry to give older women a self-esteem boost; it’s clear from data gathered by data scientist Catherine Hicks, in partnership with my firm McClennan Masson and Tetra Insights, from surveys of more than 1,000 American men and women aged 18 to 90 aimed at gaining insight into the later stages of life. What we found through a blend of research scales and open-ended questions is that older people are happier than other age groups and far more productive than commonly believed.

Indeed, the image of the lonely, cranky senior simply doesn’t match reality. Instead, we tend to be happier as we age. The older adults we surveyed (in their 60s, 70s and 80s) were more likely to report feeling calm, optimistic, cheerful and full of life, and less likely to report hopelessness, restlessness, nervousness or sadness, than those in their 20s, 30s and 40s. The results are supported by a body of scientific literature showing that happiness is roughly U-shaped, dipping at mid-life and increasing as we age.

This is good news for leadership, because who wouldn’t want a calm, optimistic boss? These traits aren’t simply plusses, but actually provide the bedrock for solid leadership. By being the center of calm, leaders inspire those around them to do their best work because everyone is operating from a place of trust.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/aging-woman-s-secret-power-data-proves-it-ncna1231616