Getting on a bit? It’s time for us to embrace 50 or more shades of grey
By Jim Bright
Recently, one of my oldest friends revealed he had given up alcohol during the first pandemic lockdown in 2020. Worse still, possibly having a senior moment, he had completely forgotten to resume imbibing since.
I accused him of impetuosity, pointing out that he had hardly given the demon drink much of a chance, and that 40 years on the turps was barely sufficient time to make a decent single malt. Another friend of similar vintage, who is normally sound on matters of importance wistfully reflected that our abstemious mucker had “had a good innings”.
This left me feeling decidedly unmoored and in a bit of funk. Have I really reached an age, where my innings is coming to an end? Am I now staggering around the crease in exhaustion, assaying wild shots with dulled reflexes and shaky judgement? In my mind I have barely marked my guard, ready to face the new ball.
Perhaps with a mind filled with the midlife crisis worries that I might be getting “on” a bit, it was foolhardy to go and see Eryn Jean Norvill give her Dorian Gray at the Sydney Theatre Company.
Oscar Wilde’s play about narcissism and doing whatever it takes to defy the ravages of ageing was presented with more screen-time than an adolescent armed with a smartphone at the back of a history class. A performance and production that was one of the most outstanding I have seen in 40-plus years of theatre attendance reinforced to me that the impulse to hold back time is both superficial and strong. Taking a century-old story, and presenting it with shape-shifting and feature-editing smartphone filters brilliantly skewered our ongoing obsession with youth and looks.
The only thing worse than being beautiful and young at work is not to be beautiful and young at work, as Wilde never wrote. The research overwhelmingly tells us that there are systematic biases that favour beautiful people. They are more likely to be hired. They are more likely to be deemed to be able, and they are more likely to be promoted.
The only thing worse than being beautiful and young at work is not to be beautiful and young at work, as Wilde never wrote.
They are over-represented in some occupations – for instance in sales and marketing. People open doors for beautiful people both figuratively and literally. So, those lucky enough to sport a figure that sashays through any openings they are invited to are also more likely, given the opportunity, to perform well. A virtuous upwards spiral for the beautiful people.
“Politics is show business for ugly people” is a quote, like so many, that has been attributed to many, frequently Bill Clinton campaign aide Paul Begala in 1993, but it was used at least as early as 1991 by political consultant Bill Miller.
Irrespective of its origins, try telling that to female politicians who are mercilessly and remorselessly judged by their appearance. The bonfire of vanities is alive and well among male politicians too. Trumpian hair-dos, a Boris flop, a Nationals Stetson or even uncharitable comparisons to tubers all serve to paint a picture of a workplace that is preoccupied with appearances.
Over the last decade, I have received unsolicited advice and encouragement to have: liposuction (twice), lap-band surgery (twice), Botox (once), teeth whitening (three times) and several imploring me to dye my hair. So far, I have resisted all such entreaties. Perhaps I have made a terrible career mistake. I am fully aware, that this kind of (generally) well-meaning pressure is experienced a hundred times more frequently and more loudly by women.
The reality is that we are generally living longer, and remaining more able, sharp and vital for much longer. In a labour market that appears to be suffering significant shortages of talent, this is a good thing. Perhaps employers will finally embrace 50 or more shades of grey, and hopefully will ignore the great Oscar Wilde when in Dorian Gray he wrote “it is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances”. We can all drink to that!
Jim Bright, FAPS is Professor of Career Education and Development at ACU and owns Bright and Associates, a Career Management Consultancy. Email to [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @DrJimBright
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