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“How can others understand or know about ageing and ageism? The simple answer is by talking and listening.”
After more than 30 years of living and working in multiple countries, Pauline now dedicates much of her time to campaigning for the rights of the LGBT+ community and older people, both locally in her area of Greater Manchester, and nationally. She has also rediscovered her creativity since retiring from work and writes poems about issues which matter to her, including ageism.
“So far, I have had a long life with many experiences. I lived and worked for around 30 years in Belgium, Holland and Germany, and travelled across Europe, the USA and India on business. I was also a single parent to my son from when he was 12.
“When I returned to the UK after working abroad, I found that trying to find a job at 60+ in the UK was basically impossible. In one job interview, I was asked if I would still be able to drive at 70. I was 60 at the time and it was obvious I was ‘too old’ for the job in the interviewer’s mind. Of course I didn’t get past the first round. From 60 to 70 I then worked on consultancy projects which were mainly in Germany and in other parts of Europe."
“It’s very complex in Western countries with ageism almost being built into the ethos of and fabric of society. Older people are criticised for being ‘past it’ or an economic burden on society. Yet many older people contribute in many different ways - as grandparents looking after grandchildren, as unpaid carers and volunteering in their community.”
Now 77, Pauline is a change-making member of her local community in Greater Manchester and a passionate advocate for other transgender people. She is a member of Bury Older People’s Network, a member of Greater Manchester Older People’s Network, a founding member of Pride in Ageing at the LGBT Foundation, a founding community reporter for Talking About My Generation and a member of Bury LGBTQI+ Forum. Her weeks are often busy with meetings, as well as seeing friends and speaking to family, and she is driven to tackling injustice and making things fairer for others.
She says, “I get involved if I see something which I think I could make a difference. For me it’s a core part of who I am, to help and wherever possible to do it with joy and love... and still retain an inner steely core so I am not a doormat!"
“I am enjoying being older, and I will continue all the volunteering for as long as I can. I learnt to paint and to sew since I was 75 and rediscovered poetry writing at 70. I genuinely enjoy trying new things and pushing myself.
“Actually, I first started writing poetry when I was at school, studying modern American Literature. Our teacher said, why don't you try writing poetry and see what happens? I wrote a couple of poems, and they were published in the school magazine. Then, you know, I went off and did a business degree and went into business and all those things just fell by the wayside. So, it's only since I stopped work that I'm discovering all these things and my creative side which was suppressed or was used in different ways.”
Pauline now writes poems on topics such as equality and discrimination. As a longtime community campaigner, she is familiar with the often-complex process of building widespread change on issues such as ageism. Yet, she maintains that we “have to stay positive and keep fighting.” She also wants to bring others on that journey.
“How can others understand or know about ageing and ageism? The simple answer is by talking and listening.”
A poem by Pauline: Being a Champion against ageism
See the pyramids along the Nile
We don’t think they are decrepit and past it
Nor with Stonehenge
We admire its builders and its longevity
So why do we hate growing old
It’s not a disease
It’s a privilege…which not all humans will enjoy
Or experience
I was lucky back when I was young
To see Stonehenge in the early morning mists
In Wiltshire in 1970
I have seen Carnac and other henges
And realised even then that growing old is special
Today you are past it in your 40s
Finding a new job in your 50s is tricky at best
Women try to stay looking young
Why?
Youth and being young, lithe and beautiful
Is a part of life
It’s not the yardstick we measure our lives by
We measure our lives through the joys and the pain
The successes and failures
As we age, we have more of these
And more laughter lines and wrinkles
More experience … more nous
We are not past it at 40, 50, 60 or 70
The balance shifts as we age
We have children and bring them up
They have children
And we become grandparents and
Pass on our experience
And if we have no children
We contribute in so many ways
Through work and volunteering
Ageing is not one size fits all
It’s not a curse
Or a handicap
Yes many older people struggle
With health and finances
Ageing is never easy
And poverty hurts deeply
But think on this
Ageing is a gift not something to be despised
If you are young and reading this
One day, if you are lucky
Like me, you will be old
I am 77 and a Champion against Ageism
Help me and my generation
Break down the barriers
Against ageism
Being old means many things
Please
Respect us, love us
Listen to us, talk with us
You can share your experiences with us
Let’s fight Ageism together
