One small part of my job as editor of ClearanceJobs.com is to take content on the site and post it to outside social networking platforms such as LinkedIn. What’s the point of producing so much excellent content if it’s not getting seen by as many people as possible? One problem with posting to outside social networks – unlike ClearanceJobs’ networking platform, the Cleared Network – anyone can post a profile to a site such as LinkedIn – foreign nationals, spies and trolls alike.
That said, you can’t deny the value of networking sites for social sharing and conversations, and I’m always glad when I get notifications that folks are engaging on our content. Imagine my delight when I see this comment posted recently:
Keeping in mind what I just said about LinkedIn being filled with trolls and fake profiles, but assuming Steve may be an actual person working in the defense industry, the comment is pretty bold. It’s far from the first time I’ve been called an idiot (sometimes it has been warranted, I can even admit), but it was a statement not backed up with rebuttals regarding the article I’d posted, but rather exclusively on my age. “You are too young to have participated in anything important to the defense or development of the western world,” to be exact.
Ageism, Sexism and the Pentagon
I don’t know if Steve read the article so I’m pretty sure he didn’t read my bio, but I have actually spent several years working as a Department of Defense civilian and a few of those years in the Pentagon, where I hear they do some work related to defense. My credentials can be argued – I worked in public relations telling Soldier stories and helping generals start Facebook pages. But I take serious offense to the notion that young people aren’t contributing to national defense. Hello?! Has Steve-O been to a deployment ceremony at any major military installation recently? The War on Terror has been waged on the backs of 18-year-olds – the old guys get to sit in nice offices in Washington, D.C.
I think the comment is representative of fairly commonly accepted ageism in the establishment defense industry. The joke is that a few gray hairs can come in handy when working in the nation’s Capital. In a region with a serious affront to change, young people can be seen as a threat.
In the years I worked in the Pentagon and defense community I was often asked if sexism was an issue (typically by colleagues in the Silicon Valley set where sexism is an issue but the boundaries are also being pushed). My usual response was no – I think in media and marketing (my industry), being female and being young are definitely an advantage. I could push the envelope in ways a uniformed ‘old’ person couldn’t. I also had a ‘street cred’ in pushing social media usage that the gray hairs didn’t. So while age and gender were an advantage to my unique position, they could also be a source of backhanded comments and discrimination. When it came to promotions I was often told to ‘wait my turn.’ Promotions can be much less about accomplishments and much more about seniority in government offices.
The other side: age discrimination and older workers
I’d remiss if I didn’t note that age discrimination is also a serious factor for older workers in the defense industry. While gray hairs are an advantage white ones are a struggle for any job seeker. And older workers, unlike young ones, are typically unable to live four to a room in a Washington, D.C. basement when they’re unemployed. So, older workers – I hear you. Feel free to submit your examples of ageism in the comments!
‘Pet’ Peeves
I’m sure every young person has some story of how they were schooled in their first years in the defense community – whether they served in uniform, as a government employee or government contractor. Much of that is a good thing – every industry has a process for putting young people through their paces – ask any resident MD or associate attorney. But every industry also needs to be aware of where initiation and discrimination meet.
At a work event last year I was chatting with a former co-worker and a few current colleagues. My old coworker (you can guess the age and gender), referred to me as the ‘pet’ of our general officer during my stint at the Pentagon, because of my role in training the military’s leadership – including the Chief of Staff of the Army – on social media best practices. I get along with this person and I don’t think there was harm meant by the comment it. I think his comment was borderline sexist but mostly I considered it blatantly ageist – had I been a 50-year-old advising senior military leadership I don’t think I would have been referred to as a pet. Because I was a 20-something, it seems my role could be equated to that of a lap animal.
Watch Your Six
If you feel you’re in a discriminatory workplace, today’s laws are in your favor. In the past several years the government has continued to crack down on pay disparity and other issues. Employees with serious complaints have new recourse, and defense employers should be aware of the latest OFCCP laws.
Job seekers out there contributing on public social networking sites should also be aware of a few things, including the reality that many people posting on those accounts aren’t legitimate – they’re fake profiles, populated by trolls and worse. Idiots who are dumb enough to call other people idiots should also be aware how such comments make them appear. If you’re going to go after a person based on age you had better have a few good counterpoints to throw into the mix. Otherwise you’re throwing away your professional reputation for one bad rant.
