Breaking the Age Glass Ceiling as a Woman
There is a quiet rule society expects women to follow. After a certain age, ambition should soften, curiosity should dim, and visibility should shrink. Growth is tolerated only if it remains discreet. I broke that rule. Slowly, deliberately, and without apology.
When Experience Was Welcome but Age Was Not
At forty, newspapers did not want to employ me. Not because I lacked skill, but because I no longer fit their preferred idea of who deserved a permanent seat at the table. Strangely, freelancing was acceptable. Writing without pay was acceptable. Commitment, however, was not.
That contradiction revealed the age glass ceiling clearly. My voice had value, but my presence did not. Instead of retreating, I kept writing. Not to prove a point, but because stopping would have meant accepting a verdict I did not believe in.
Starting From Scratch Without a Manual
At forty-eight, I began blogging. I had no understanding of algorithms, platforms, or monetisation. I did not even know what blogging demanded. What I did know was that I had stories that needed a home.
Breaking the age glass ceiling as a woman often begins in unfamiliar territory. You start without validation. You learn while moving forward. Doubt walks beside you, but it does not lead.
Years passed. I stayed with it. At sixty-two, I am still blogging. Still evolving. Still learning. Longevity itself became an act of resistance.
Choosing Visibility Over Comfort
Some choices came later, not as rebellion but as release. Joining a choir. Attending music jam sessions and learning new creative skills, where I was often the oldest in the room. None of it felt awkward. Growth rarely does when it is honest.
Walking the ramp at fifty-eight and again at sixty-one was not about fashion or applause. It was about reclaiming space that had once felt forbidden. A teenage dream fulfilled decades later carries a depth that youth alone cannot provide.
Why Breaking the Age Glass Ceiling Still Matters
This journey was never about proving that age does not matter. Age does matter. It brings depth, resilience, and clarity. What must be dismantled is the belief that age limits relevance.
Breaking the age glass ceiling as a woman means refusing to fade quietly. It means choosing curiosity over caution. It means understanding that reinvention does not require permission, only persistence.
I broke a rule that said it was too late.
Everything meaningful began after that.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
@wordsmithkaur
@wordsmithkaur
More power to you, Harjeet! You are a true example that age should not limit anyone. Here’s to learning and growing and happiness.
I think nowadays age is just a number! But women still struggle to find their balance with growing age. I feel we need to accept skills more than biological stuff.
This is a lesson to be learnt by every woman of any age. Just a few days ago, I was reading an interview with Shefali Shah, where she talked about how a woman’s age still determines the kind of character she is likely to be cast as. That does not apply to male actors.
This was an honest and thoughtful piece. The idea of an ‘age glass ceiling’ is something many women quietly face, and you explained it in a very clear and relatable way.
Harjeet ji you are a true inspiration. I wish I could learn the fact that timelines dont actually matter it is about when life unfolds and we look at it with courage is when life begins.
So empowering and honest. It’s inspiring to see age reframed as strength and experience rather than a limitation.
So beautifully honest. I found your post so empowering.
Age is just a number and you are definitely a rockstar. Way to go
what an exemplary way to live Harjeet ji – love that you are breaking ceilings, and sharing them with us – which is inspiring! It makes me think i too can go beyond the number and try new things.
My aunt (bua), now 84, is living her life now. She has a gang of her own; they go shopping, and they meet every evening and celebrate birthdays. In fact, a couple of years ago, she was in a play too. All her desires, which even she did not know existed, are now getting fulfilled. And she’s happy and engaged. For us, her family, this matters most. Age is only a number, and many are actually jealous of us when they raise an eyebrow. I learned swimming at 40 with children in the apartment. I was the oldest, so I know how it feels. Having said that, you rock, Harjeet! Keep inspiring…there are many looking up to you and walking in your footsteps! Cheers!
This was such an inspiring read. As a woman juggling many roles, I really connected with your message about challenging limits and redefining success at every age.
Such an empowering and thoughtful piece, Harjeet ji. The way you spoke about the age glass ceiling many women quietly face was very relatable. It’s inspiring to see age being viewed as strength and experience rather than a limitation. Truly a reminder that timelines don’t matter as much as the courage to keep learning and growing. More power to you.
You are unstoppable, You are are unbeatable, You are the evergreen queen in my heart, You are the one who taught there is no end till the time you say I quit. Thank you for inspiring us with every post of yours.
Very inspiring as usual … It is so heartening to see you explore new things, new avenues. Like you said – experiencing things that felt forbidden once. I really liked that and hopefully will get there some time.
I salute you every single day ma’am. I shared your journey with my best friend, who lost her husband at 35. You are the epitome of strength and resilience.