A Star In The Ascendant

Top Tweets from November's #blkcreatives Twitter Chat

8:30 AM
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Reverse Ageism: An Age Old Problem with a Plot Twist

A 2014 study showed that black women are the most educated group in the United States, outranking every other race and gender in college enrollment. If you are a woman of color, you already know that you've had two strikes against you since birth. We still have many (many many) steps to take before we are even close to an equal playing ground with our white, male counterparts, but this is a step in the right direction, right? There shouldn't be anymore obstacles to overcome after we pass race and gender, right? Hate to break it to you, but there's someone new on the pitcher's mound so be prepared for strike three.

The term ageism was coined in 1969 to define the stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. In that time, the term referred specifically to older individuals who had spent decades in the workforce. Now, millennial's and generation Y can look forward to another closely tied concept called reverse ageism. Yup, that's right. Along with overcoming obstacles based on race or ethnicity and gender, let's go ahead and add age into that as well. For my non-WOC readers, don't feel left out - this will definitely affect you as well.

According to an article from the Wall Street Journal, many employers are adopting a "last in, first out" policy to prevent age-discrimination lawsuits. Increasingly so over the last few years, the majority of those being laid off are younger employees. "While no age group is exempt from layoffs, younger workers seem to be shouldering a larger percentage of the burden, according to recent Labor Department figures," WSJ notes.

Not only is this in regards to layoffs, reverse ageism happens even in the workplace. In the measly six months that I've been employed full time, I would have to say that someone brings up my age at least four or five times a week. Whether asking if I've seen a movie that came out at any point in the 90s or referencing my "millennial-like" lingo, I am always aware that I am new to the grown up table. Try as I might to adapt to my coworkers way of thinking, I've realized that I just don't fit in. Never mind the fact that I am one of two African American's that I see on a daily basis.

My boss, who is dreading her upcoming thirty-first birthday, is the one who I feel youngest around. In an office surrounded by physicians who've spent nearly two decades at the practice, the person who makes me feel most self conscious about myself is a staggering nine years older than me. Every time she says something, I think to myself "why does it matter if I know who Jem & the Holograms are? Isn't it more important that I know how to update a website or write a press release?" Not really. She may joke about it (often) and laugh it off, but what it really comes down to is relatability. Can I identify with you? Can I relate to you? I'm not expecting getting the boot anytime soon but understanding how reverse ageism could affect me not only as a millennial but as a female, African American millennial definitely has me on my P's & Q's.

Have any of you experienced reverse ageism in the workplace? What are your thoughts on the concept as a millennial just entering the workforce? I'd love to hear what your thoughts!

8:00 AM
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My Birthday Wishlist

accessories

At first I was a little hesitant about making one of these wishlist posts - why would anybody care about what I want for my birthday or Christmas or whatever. Then I started thinking: since this is my little corner of the universe (or Internet, whatever), I'm going to post about whatever I like and since I celebrate the entire month, why not start with my wish list?

"Simone" Warby Parker Glasses: Although I wear my contacts pretty often, a new pair of glasses always makes me feel like a brand new person. Kind of like Peter Parker when he puts on his spidey suit. Aside from the fact that these frames are really cool and vintage looking, I love the fact that for each pair purchased, they donate a pair to someone in need. Such good looking glasses at a great price with an even better cause is definitely on my list. They're even named after me ;)

NYX Matte Lipstick in Maison: okay so I should probably take this off the list because I just bought it while typing up this post, but I absolutely love this color. It's so gorgeous and the perfect brown-ish nude for my skin color. At only six bucks, it's quite a steal.

Tan Plaid Blanket Scarf: I love blankets. I equally love scarves. I obviously need this. Plus I get really bad coughs from time to time. I need something to snuggle in.

Denman Medium Classic Styling Brush: In the process of transitioning from relaxed to natural hair, I've been watching a ton of YouTube videos and reading too many blogs to name. However, the one factor that most of them have is the fact that they all mention how amazing this brush is for detangling and defining curls. It's a little on the pricey side...which is why I'm hoping to get it for my birthday or Christmas!

kate spade new york Gold-Tone Pavé Elephant Bangle Bracelet: I'm not normally a bracelet person but it matches my watch and it's got an elly so I want it. (Was that really childish? Oh well, it's my birthday.)

"Like A Boss" Mug": Coffee is a part of my daily routine and I'm always looking to expand my mug collection. When I was younger, I hated gold but now I would pick it over any other color. It's pretty obvious that I need it, huh?

Merona Riding Boots: There's no rule that says a girl can have too many boots right? Because I absolutely love them and I'm in need of a new pair. I've already got the staple black pair and the staple brown pair so of course a combination of both is next in line.

Are any of my followers November babies as well? What's on your birthday list? Let me know!

7:07 PM
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First Job Chronicles: Being "the kid" and Getting Adult Recognition

adult recognition

I grew up watching Boy Meets World, Mary Kate & Ashley movies & Sister, Sister. Tamagotchi pets & glitter Pokemon cards were coveted in elementary school circles and the sign of a great day was walking into class and seeing a huge box TV being rolled to the front of the room. I'm a 90's baby and I love it. Last November, I turned 21 and have been enjoying my barely legal adulthood ever since. I never once was insecure about my age...until I entered the real world.

My current boss turned 30 less than a week after I turned 21. Aside from the fact that she's my boss, I don't see her as being much older than myself. She binge watches Pretty Little Liars, shares my love of wine and spends half of the summer lounging by the pool. I probably wouldn't even notice that I was so young if she didn't mention something about her age every other day. Oh and my work environment doesn't help too much either. I’m surrounded by people who've been at the company for at least five years, are married with children and own their homes. It's hard not to be known as the kid in the office. In the last five months, I've learned a LOT about being an adult and about being recognized as one as well. Here are my tips on how to be recognized as an adult when you're clearly not old enough to have a mortgage:

For Goodness Sake, Sit up Straight: body language is one of the most important giveaways. Young people have a tendency to slouch, which gives a "submission" effect. When I'm sitting across from my boss and she's asking me to work on something, I subconsciously slouch. Hunched shoulders and big puppy dog eyes make you look like a kid. I'm not saying posture is the end all, be all, but give it a try and tell me it doesn't make you feel more sophisticated.
Language Is Just as Important as Body Language: Unless the sentence is a simile, try your hardest to refrain from overusing the word "like." It's really hard, I know. But one thing that my boss encouraged me to work on during my 3-month evaluation is stepping up my professionalism in the speaking department. Hearing the words "like" or "cute" over and over again is not only really annoying, it makes you sound like Alicia Silverstone from Clueless. You are not Cher. Stop it. Oh and believe me, I'm being just as mean to everyone as I am to myself. (After my boss pointed out that I say "BRB" and "probs" on a daily basis, I had to make some lifestyle changes.)
Dress for the Job You Want: I love dressing up. Heels, jewelry, dresses - the whole nine yards. I'm not a fashionista like Zaria from A Dose of Fab, but I do what I can. Working in a semi-medical environment, most of my coworkers wear scrubs and sneakers. However, most of the other administrative people wear similar clothes to what I wear. Recently, I got my own cubicle space located near the physician offices. Which means that now, I am surrounded by people in comfy shoes and stretchy pants. Do I feel out of place walking in 4-inch heels and business casual dresses? Extremely. But guess what? You dress for where you want to be, not for where you are. Sure, I could get away with throwing on oxfords and dressy-ish pants, but I'd rather be recognized for my professional and dressy attire.
Understand the Company Culture: At this company, we always have meetings. We have meetings to prep for meetings and sub-committee meetings to plan the agenda for the prep meetings. Personally, I hate meetings. However, I understand that if I need to talk to someone important, chances are they will be at the meeting. There's a 50% chance I'll catch them at their office but there's a 100% chance they'll be at the meeting. If said person only responds to emails, don't leave them a sticky note on their desk or a voicemail. Understanding how to communicate with the individuals in your workplace show that you have a greater understanding of the organization and, yes, are an adult with sound communication skills. It might not seem like a huge deal but when you're trying to coordinate company-wide events, those things are important.
Be an adult! Gone are the days of partying every single night. (Every other night should suffice by now, guys.) Coming to work with a hangover is not only unattractive, it shows everyone you work with that you're just another college kid, even if you graduated a whole 6 months ago. You don't have to watch CNN every day to stay up to date on current happenings! theSkimm is an excellent resource for getting the news. Be open-minded: if you're in a workplace where everyone is at least nine or ten years older than you, there is a huge age gap. Open your mind to understanding their viewpoints. While you might not agree wholeheartedly, you've just showed your coworkers that you can have an intelligent conversation without pouting and having a temper tantrum. That, my friends, is adult-like behavior and kudos to you.