Baby Boomers Sure Had It Going On! Here's Why:
Let’s continue the conversation from our previous article, Baby Boomers Impact on Society. Here we explore the impact of Baby Boomers on the workplace. Born between 1946 and 1964, Boomers entered the workforce during the rise of dual-income families, and were key to immense changes that reshaped America’s cultural, social, and economic landscape.
They played a crucial role in championing equal opportunities, breaking down gender stereotypes, and fostering inclusivity. Boomers were the first generation to witness and influence the evolution of the country as it moved from the post-war era into the technical and digital age.
In the 1970s, Boomers paved the way for women to enter traditionally male-dominated roles and finally secure positions in corporate management. Would you be surprised to learn that a mere 40 years ago, no management occupation had a majority of women? It was Baby Boomers who championed women to pursue careers in management, and shatter barriers that once seemed insurmountable.
Despite significant progress, a staggering 43% of the population in the mid-1980s still upheld gendered separation of roles. Men should be the breadwinners, and women in a supportive, caring role within a family unit. This Harvard Business Review article details what limited progress was made between 1980 and 2010, providing context to our current state.
A Journey of Change: Some Contextual History
In 1970, when I started work, there was just one telephone company in the United States – AT&T. Since then, the industry had many iterations before and after the AT&T divestiture in 1984. The landscape of business and technology continued to morph. Remember the dot-com bust of 2000? The telecom industry lost over $2 trillion in market capital. That tremendous wake up call brought significant changes in the industry ever since.
AT&T diversified – taking on new technologies, new products and seemingly disparate business ventures. Radical changes to our mission came with dramatic shifts in corporate culture. We lived through it all with each new CEO and new corporate name over the last twenty years. Through it all, AT&T remained a clear leader of technology, and building a brand second to none. Being an AT&T employee was a badge of honor, for most of my career.
Workplace Changes
My organization was brought together for a virtual town hall meeting, as was customary at the end of each quarter. Senior leaders gathered on stage in Dallas. They were all women, much younger than me. There was a sense of pride, as I reflected on the challenging road my generation had traveled in this company. I was struck that these accomplished leaders likely had no idea of the types of bias and mistreatment we had weathered. They were blind to the uncomfortable situations women of ability endured, when these new leaders were still children.
Moreover, my cohort experienced a time when men held all the power, while women fought relentlessly for equality. Women battled to maintain their jobs long before the terms “sexual harassment” and “hostile work environment” found their voice.
Watching these new leaders take their place as stewards of our organization was a seminal moment. They represented the vanguard of change. In addition, to the leaders on stage, the five levels of management directly above me, were women. To have played a part in that journey – however small – was an immense privilege. It filled me with a sense of pride and joy, even in the face of all the challenges that still lie ahead.
The leaders went on to tout all of the successes of our organization, despite challenges such as COVID, working from home, the economy and the effects of competition. We were all rock stars in their eyes. It seemed like we had so much to celebrate.
A Wake Up Call: Corporate Downsizing
Then came the sobering news. All warm and fuzzy feelings were suddenly doused with ice cold water. I was stunned as they stated at least 10% of the workforce would be cut in the coming months. To be clear, it wasn’t that I was surprised we faced downsizing. Resizing the company seemed to come every couple of years as the corporation grappled with new technology, strangled by industry purchases that went sideways – and all while having to deliver strong shareholder value. What was stunning was the way in which the message was delivered. Cold. Removed. I thought to myself, this is what a stereotypical clique of mean girls must look like at high school. They were blissfully transparent. It wasn’t about the people that got us to this place in history. It’s all numbers. Bottom line, stock price, widget sales, customers, employees. All about the numbers. Of course it is.
Workplace Ageism: My Twelve Month Journey In Ignorance
I had been in the employ of the same company for most of forty years. The beginning of my particular career path was not easy. However that had more to do with societal norms of the time. Misogyny and sexism, and all the other ‘isms’ were part and parcel of the decades before 1990, in my experience. Fast forward to 2023, when it was no longer external forces that created a challenging workplace environment. It was people. People protecting what was ‘theirs.’ My next two articles have to do with that particular experience. I didn’t recognize ageism in the workplace, and only after talking with legal counsel later did I fully understand what had happened to me. The next two articles are to hopefully help someone else know what to look for, and how to combat Ageism in the Workplace.
"Every glass ceiling, when reached, becomes a floor."
Aldous Huxley