Women in Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age.

This article examines how women in leadership positions face ageism at every stage of their careers, a phenomenon termed gendered ageism, which combines biases related to both age and gender. Based on survey research of 913 women leaders across higher education, faith-based nonprofits, law, and healthcare in the United States, it finds that younger, middle-aged, and older women all encounter distinct forms of discrimination, such as being perceived as inexperienced, difficult to manage, or irrelevant. The article highlights that no age is considered the "right age" for women leaders, resulting in persistent barriers to hiring, promotion, and credibility. It recommends organizational strategies to combat this bias, including recognizing ageism alongside other diversity efforts, addressing appearance-based discrimination ("lookism"), focusing on skills rather than age-related assumptions, and fostering intergenerational mentorship and collaboration.