It is a commentory made in the Star, a Malaysia newspaper. The text is below:
The quote "Ladies, Don't let anybody ever tell you that you are past your prime" from Michelle Yeoh's Oscar acceptance speech is a rallying cry against the pervasive ageism that women face in the workplace. Despite having a higher life expectancy than men, women are still subjected to lower retirement ages and discriminatory practices based on their age - a common practice labelled as ageism.
Ageism refers to the stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination that women face in the workplace based on their age. Older women are especially vulnerable to ageism and are often told they are "too old" for certain opportunities, while men are allowed to continue advancing in their careers well into their 60s and beyond.
Statistics show that women face a higher level of age discrimination in the workplace than men. For example, about 61 percent of American women experienced age discrimination versus 50 percent of American men. Another statistics says two out of three American women in their 50s experienced age discrimination. While statistics in Malaysia are not available, anecdotal evidence suggests ageism is real, and women suffer more. It is well-documented that women face gender discrimination in the workplace and ageism has further compounded this problem. Despite their skills, qualifications, and experience, women are often judged more harshly based on their age than their male counterparts. Ageism can limit opportunities for career advancement and lead to unfair treatment and compensation. This double discrimination is even more pronounced in some countries, where women are expected to retire at an earlier age than men. For example in China, the retirement age for women in the civil services is 50, while men are allowed to retire at 60, creating a 10-year gap. Vietnam has a similar gap of five years.
It's time to challenge the societal expectations that limit women's potential in the workplace. Women have a higher life expectancy than men (on average 8 percent or about five years), but they are still subject to lower retirement ages and other forms of discrimination based on their age. We must work together to break down the barriers of ageism and create a society where women can thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their age. Michelle Yeoh's words serve as a reminder that women should never let anyone tell them they are past their prime, but instead, should continue to challenge themselves and reach for new heights in their careers.