Women over 60 are much stronger than we get credit for. Often stereotyped as being weak and invisible, we have experienced loss, seized opportunities and influenced social change. In six decades of life, we have raised families, navigated careers and reinvented ourselves more times than we can count. We have emerged stronger than we could have imagined, but, it is a strength softened by wisdom. Looking back, there are so many pivotal events that have influenced our lives. As I talk to women in the Sixty and Me community, I realize that one of the most influential events was one that we seldom think of: our first job.
We were one of the first generations of women to have the opportunity to chart our own course from the very beginning of our lives. Yes, many of us faced challenges with discrimination, and even harassment, along the way. But, for the most part, we were given an incredible opportunity to be healthier, better educated and more independent than any other generation. This opportunity has continued into our 60s and we are now redefining retirement and exploring our passions at an age when our grandmothers were "aging gracefully." Looking back, it is clear that much of our generation's determination was forged in the fires of our first experiences in the workplace.
When I asked the 50,000 women in the Sixty and Me community to describe their first jobs, I was expecting to hear interesting stories, but, I wasn't expecting the depth of emotion in their responses. It is clear that, for better or for worse, our first jobs were a launching pad for the rest of our lives.
I wasn't surprised by the tough conditions that the other women of my generation faced, but, I was surprised that they stuck with it. In many ways, it seems like their unhappiness, far from destroying or discouraging them, was the fuel that drove them to succeed. Our generation wanted to be the masters of our own destiny and, for the most part, we succeeded.
Here are a few of the answers that I received from the women in the community when I asked, "What was your first paying job and what did you learn?"
- Rena Sue - My first job was in a dime store behind the candy counter. I learned to eat candy fast and sneaky. I also learned that I did not want to live my life forever in a small town, so I joined the Navy and travelled the world.
Women of our generation are special. As much as any other group of women in history, we have changed the world with our determination, compassion, bravery and passion. None of this would have been possible without the formative work experiences that we had in our teens and 20s. So, the next time your grandchild complains about their morning paper route, tell them what you did and, more importantly, what you learned from it!
What was your first job and what did you learn from it? Please add your own experiences in the comments section below or join the conversation in the Sixty and Me forum.
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