Disrupting Ageism and Empowering Women
Aging is often accompanied by a sense of invisibility and irrelevance, especially for women who find themselves sidelined by societal expectations and stereotypes. In an enriching conversation Beverley Glazer and Dr. Michelle Zive delve into the narratives that shape women’s lives and how to rewrite them for empowerment. Beverley Glazer, a mentor helping women rediscover their inner game, and Michelle Zive, a disruptor and founder of Representation Rebellion, share insights on overcoming limitations and thriving with purpose.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace self-worth and resilience to combat age-related stereotypes.
Understand and disrupt the internalized narratives that limit personal growth.
Use structured approaches such as self-care, positive affirmations, and community support for empowerment.
Embracing Self-Worth and Resilience
In the dialogue, Michelle Zive articulates her journey from feeling invisible in a patriarchal family structure to becoming a formidable force in the professional realm. She recollects, “I’m the oldest… and when my brother came around, I really felt that I took a second seat.” This early experience of invisibility was compounded by her father’s alcoholism and ever-changing careers, placing enormous pressure on her to be the caretaker and the ‘good girl.’
Zive’s story is emblematic of many women’s experiences – being thrust into roles of responsibility while feeling undervalued. This duality of being indispensable yet invisible is a critical theme. Her resilience is illuminated as she transitions from an emotionally challenging upbringing to a seasoned professional who had an indelible impact on her community. “I was a perfectionist growing up… I got good grades. I got married very young to a very stable guy. I did all the right things.” However, she didn’t stop there; she continued to strive for relevance, which led her to further her education even in her late forties.
Zive’s journey underscores the importance of resilience and the unwavering belief in one’s abilities. Her advice? Confront those internalized stories of inadequacy and rewrite them. The first step to combating age-related stereotypes is to cultivate self-worth unwaveringly.
Disrupting Internalized Limitations
One of the most riveting parts of the conversation is the realization and subsequent disruption of internalized limitations. Michelle Zive describes her traumatic experiences in higher education and professional arenas, culminating in a profound realization during her PhD journey. “Towards the end of my studies, I was sexually assaulted by a professor. It was traumatizing.” Despite these harrowing experiences, Zive persisted and completed her PhD at 52, driven by an indomitable spirit to defy societal expectations.
Beverley Glazer aptly focuses on the stories women have been fed throughout their lives that limit their potential. As Zive puts it, “I was blaming society, blaming my dog, blaming the family for distractions and not being able to focus… when really I was believing the stories that I’ve been told that I’m not worthy.” This internal struggle against self-limiting beliefs is a significant barrier for many women.
Breaking free from these constraints requires a concerted effort to identify and dismantle them. Zive’s Representation Rebellion movement aims to disrupt these stories by sharing empowering narratives from women who defy the odds. Practical tools like positive affirmations and self-devotion are pivotal. Zive’s counsel for women is to start simple yet powerful practices such as giving themselves high-fives in the mirror to boost self-esteem and change negative thought patterns.
Structured Approaches to Empowerment
Staying empowered in the face of societal biases necessitates a structured approach. Throughout the conversation, both Glazer and Zive emphasize the utility of consistent, intentional practices. Michelle Zive’s journey shows us that structured community outreach and persistent personal development are crucial for sustained empowerment.
After a career built on contributing to community health and nutrition, Michelle faced an abrupt end to what she thought was her life’s work. Her dismissal from the University was a turning point, reflecting the systemic challenges women face. Nevertheless, her reaction set a powerful precedent. “I started Representation Rebellion to disrupt the stories they sell and tell about us by telling our own.”
The focus on self-care, self-love, and reformation of internal narratives forms the bedrock of her movement. Empowering others also involves taking tangible steps in the real world. She says, “90% of our thoughts are negative. Start switching that around… because what you think is the way you’re going to behave.” Practical measures like affirmations and building supportive communities can be transformational.
Through this empowering conversation, Beverley Glazer and Michelle Zive convey a message that resonates profoundly: women over fifty can redefine their relevance and purpose by confronting and reshaping the narratives that confine them. This is not merely about survival but about thriving with a renewed sense of self-worth, resilience, and passion.
For those seeking to break free from the shackles of societal expectations, the first step is often the hardest. Yet, as Dr. Michelle Zive demonstrates through her life and work, it is also the most transformative. Understanding that the stories society tells about age and gender do not have to define one’s journey opens the door to limitless possibilities. Reach out, build your tribe, and reclaim your invincibility.
Connect with Michelle Zive:
https://www.representationrebellion.com https://www.facebook.com/Representationrebellion https://www.instagram.com/representationrebellion/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-zive/
Connect with Bev:
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenover50rock
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyglazer/
Get the Fulfillment Guide: https://reinventimpossible1.lpages.co/life-perspective-inventory
Need advice? Schedule a time to talk: https://calendly.com/reinventimpossible/15min
