Liza Miller: The Endless Fight Against Ageism In The Workplace For A Woman Over 40 – What The Real Punishment For Getting Older Is In A Society That’s So Against Women

Liza Miller was first introduced to us in a little show called Younger, which starred Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Nico Tortorella, Peter Hermann, Debi Mazar, and Miriam Shor, as a 40 year old woman starting her whole life around following her divorce. She had plans to get into the workforce after being a stay-at-home-mom for years. Like Caroline Channing in the previous post, she’d lost everything in this newest life event that’s happened in her life. But the job market wasn’t kind to her, especially considering her age and the length of time in which she wasn’t in the workforce.

When a tattoo artist suggested to her that she pass off as a woman in her 20’s, Liza decided to do something about it. She sold herself as a 26 year old woman starting her career. At the courtesy of a makeover by her best friend, Maggie. The newfound confidence helped get her a job assisting temperamental Diana. Had it not been for Maggie’s help, Liza wouldn’t have been able to find the courage to lie about her age and get back into publishing.

This very lie was indeed what got Liza her job with Diana. It was the worst-kept secret in publishing. Whether it was because Liza decided to unburden herself and reveal her true identity to someone she loved, or because both of her IDs happened to fall out of her wallet, both major and tertiary, were learning the truth all over the place. The more time passed in her lying about her age, the harder it became to keep that lie a secret. She developed real, genuine friendships at work; and a longterm relationship as well in which she was forced to lie.

Josh, Liza’s younger boyfriend, was the first one to find out of her real age. It was at a Bat Mitzvah party where the host drugged everyone with Molly. As Josh came to Liza’s aid and gave her water, she said ‘I love you,’ to which he responded with an ‘I love you too.’ This prompted Liza to tell him the truth; the whole truth. Josh was sad of the revelation. Not because of Liza’s age, but because of the lie itself. After some time apart, they get back together when Liza, in an old person move, made him a PowerPoint presentation. Their relationship sadly couldn’t survive the test of time. Josh wanted children. Liza knew for sure she didn’t have it in her to have another child. And so, hesitantly and heartbreakingly, she let him go. The worst part about the whole thing was that Josh was ready to propose to her.

During her time in publishing, Liza had gotten closer to her co-worker Kelsey. She, too, assumed Liza was in her 20’s. That was until Josh called Liza a liar and a cheat right in front of Kelsey, which prompted her to come clean. This caused a rift in the friendship, lasting a whopping 3 episodes, until Kelsey witnessed Liza as a mother to her daughter. The two made up, and Kelsey even became Liza’s biggest ally in keeping her secret.

One of the last people to know of Liza’s secret was Diana – her boss. At first, she was baffled as to why Liza would go to all this trouble for this particular job. But as she begins to list tasks Liza’s had to do over the years, it quickly moves from degrading to much more meaningful things Liza had done for Diana. It might’ve started out as Liza lying to get a job with Diana, but it turned into something much more – a long lasting friendship that neither wanted to lose.

The most baffling revelation of all was the one that came from Pauline Turner Brooks, the ex-wife of Liza’s boyfriend Charles. She especially went nuclear when she found out that Charles knew of the secret and allowed her to be around their kids, who absolutely adored Liza. Pauline decided it’d be real cool-like to use her time at the mic during a Publishers Weekly event for debut authors to completely out Liza in front of everyone. Hell hath no fury, etc, etc. The story went viral, which hurt the publishing firm’s reputation. Pauline then also made it clear to Charles that she’d be getting a lawyer to revise their custody agreement.

Charles wasn’t someone who found out of Liza’s real age. Of course, he was furious at first. He found out after dropping the publishing firm’s biggest author, Edward L.L. Moore, due to sexual harassment allegations. Thereafter, Moore fought back by providing information that would discredit all of his accusers, including Liza Miller, who, he told Charles, was a complete con artist. Edward L.L. Moore brought receipts! Charles felt betrayed by the lie. He iced her out her out at work and grew progressively passive-aggressive until finally he told her he knew the truth. Things got rough in the workplace. There were lots of longing glances being tossed around, and it made the release of Charles’s ex-wife’s book Marriage Vacation much more complicated, but eventually he came to see Liza for who she really was and fell even more in love with her.

While it might’ve seemed like what Liza did to get the job she wanted was such a bad deed , it actually wasn’t. Many women are in her position in this day and age. A 2024 study found that more than 80 per cent (80.7 per cent) have witnessed women in the workplace being treated differently because of their age. One respondent noted, ‘I have never heard comments about male colleagues being too young or too old for their work. Women are either too young, too old, or may be in the age range of having children. All are viewed as negative.’

Ageism definitely exists. It’s especially true for women, and it’s both in the workplace and in life as a whole. It was undeniable that Liza was good at her job, but the fact of the matter is that she wouldn’t have gotten the job to begin with had she been honest about her age. On this blog, I’ve spoken a lot about the discrimination that comes with disability. But never did I ever mention being discriminated by age. That’s because I myself don’t think I ever was. But there IS in fact such a thing as having too much experience, too little experience, or none at all. Today, in 2026, 99% of workers over the age of 40 reported ageism in the workplace. This includes fielding ageist stereotypes, bullying and pressure to conceal their real age. And this doesn’t just happen in the hiring process, but on the job too. Examples of ageism include being passed over for promotions in favor of younger workers, being excluded from training or leadership opportunities, or hearing comments implying you’re “too old” for certain tasks. Terminating or demoting employees based on age-related assumptions is also unlawful.

Generally speaking, ageism for women often accelerates around age 35, marking a shift where they are increasingly perceived as “too old” or past their prime, impacting career growth, income, and societal perception. This form of gendered ageism results in an often dubbed the “motherhood penalty,” reduced access to leadership, and pressure to adhere to youthful beauty standards. To break it down more thoroughly:

Workplace Impact for Women 35+

• Declining Opportunities: Starting at age 35, 60% of women report experiencing gendered ageism, with this figure rising as they age.

• Career “Drop-off”: Women are often passed over for promotions or key assignments, sometimes forced out of the workforce, and find it more challenging to get rehired compared to men.

• Perception Issues: Women are frequently falsely viewed as less capable with technology, slow to learn, or less committed to their careers.

• The “Motherhood Penalty”: Women in this age bracket are often penalized for family responsibilities, which can halt their career advancement. 

Societal and Cultural Factors

• Physical Appearance Pressures: Women face higher pressure than men to appear youthful, with visible signs of aging leading to increased marginalization.

• Media Representation: Women over 50 are vastly underrepresented in media, often stereotyped, or deemed “invisible”.

• Medical Dismissal: Women in the 40–60 age range often have their health concerns, particularly regarding perimenopause, neglected or disregarded by the medical establishment. Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector.

Combating Ageism

• Visibility and Advocacy: Highlighting older female role models in leadership roles.

• Supportive Policies: Implementing workplace training, mentorship, and support for menopause.

• Cultural Shifts: Challenging the narrative that equates a woman’s value with her youth. Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector.

While 77% of women under 35 report being seen as too young or inexperienced, the narrative shifts after 35 to being considered too old in the window of professional peak. Younger resonated with this very factor women are faced with in the workplace and beyond. Liza’s life turned upside down and she tried so hard to reinvent herself in a world that is astoundingly obsessed with youth. Her fictional life very much mirrored what so many women face today in the midst of getting older.

They say age is just a number, but in a world of womanhood, that’s just not the case. Liza wanted so much more for her life, and she refused to be put in a box. Her ambition wasn’t portrayed as a selfish or inappropriate act; but a necessity. Liza’s journey was essentially a takeaway. Growth doesn’t an expiration date. Fulfilment isn’t reserved for the young. In doing what she’d done, Liza quietly but confidently challenged one of society’s most persistent narratives.

Time and time again, the world tells women that they should be afraid of getting older; that by 35+, a woman’s life is over. Liza challenged that narrative. At age 40, she wasn’t done. She was just beginning. But what’s important to remember is that ageism goes both ways. A woman can be 20 years old and dismissed because she’s too young to be valuable. Back in 2017, Miriam Shor, who played Diana, spoke of the ageism women face in Hollywood. She said, ‘What’s interesting is that we know about it in Hollywood and we talk about it in Hollywood, but it’s actually everywhere. And, ageism goes both ways — we can dismiss people in their 20’s because they’re young, when they have ideas that are valuable. What’s great about [this show] is that we can talk about every aspect of it.’ Duff added, ‘It’s kind of crazy that [age] is what identifies us. You open any newspaper or magazine – whether a person is famous or not — it’s so and so, 42, so and so, 29, etc. Why is that the second bit of info that we need to have (about a person?)’

She’s absolutely right. Women are often defined, valued, and judged by their age due to deeply ingrained societal, cultural, and media-driven stereotypes, a phenomenon frequently described as “gendered ageism”. This pressure often creates a double standard where women are pressured to maintain a youthful appearance, while men are more often celebrated for gaining wisdom and status as they age. To break it down more thoroughly:

Key Aspects of Age Definition for Women:

• The Youth/Beauty Standard: Society frequently equates a woman’s value with her youth and physical attractiveness. As women age, they may feel “invisible” or less relevant, sometimes referred to as “invisible woman syndrome,” particularly after age 50.

• The “Expiration Date” Mentality: Women often feel pressured to achieve major life milestones—such as career stability and marriage—before turning 30. This creates a sense of running out of time, which can cause women to feel they have less value as they age.

• The Double Standard of Aging: Research indicates that women are judged harsher than men for getting older, with their value linked to appearance rather than experience. Men are often seen as “distinguished” as they age, while women are expected to hide signs of aging.

• Workplace Ageism: Women face age-related bias at all stages of their careers, often described as having “no right age” because they are perceived as too young, too old, or too “in-between”.

• “Woman of a Certain Age”: This euphemism is often used to describe women over 50, which, while sometimes associated with gaining freedom and confidence, can also highlight the societal awkwardness around acknowledging older women. 

Positive Re-evaluations and Defiance:

• Reclaiming Value: Many women report finding increased self-confidence, freedom, and authenticity after their 40s, having been freed from the intense scrutiny of the male gaze.

• Redefining Aging: Increasingly, women are defying these stereotypes by focusing on wisdom and accomplishments rather than just appearance, proving that value exists beyond youth. 

While these societal pressures are widespread, they can vary across different cultures and individual experiences.

Getting older is scary, especially as a woman. So much of the time, society acts as though getting older is some type of crime. Society often equates a woman’s value with her youth and beauty, making aging feel like a loss of social relevance or becoming “invisible”. There is a higher bar for women to look young compared to men. In Liza’s case, how she looked wasn’t the point. The point was that women have to face so much crap to make it in a world where they’re either too old or too young. Kelsey faced ageism too as she was deemed too young.

Younger broke the narrative of women being in competition with other women while working in a cut throat industry. It showed some heartwarming friendships too, particularly Liza’s friendship with Kelsey. But it almost didn’t make enough of an emphasis on the realities of ageism. Ageism in the workplace can come in many different forms. In 2019 alone, 15,573 age discrimination claims were filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 2018, an AARP survey found that nearly one in four workers aged 45 and older have been subjected to negative comments about their age from supervisors or coworkers, and about three in five older workers have seen or experienced age discrimination in the workplace.

Youth can easily be a state of mind. Society tells us otherwise. It’s never too late to start over, but the social constructs are in place to discourage us from doing just that. We’ve seen ageism impact women more historically. Women over 40 are deemed to be undesirable. Somehow, Younger portrayed women over 40 to be bullies. It told us that women over 40 were boring, angry, bitchy, bitter, and downright evil and disgusting. As a middle-aged woman, you’re either a boring housewife or a bitchy boss dreading being old and alone. There’s nothing in-between.

Somehow, Liza didn’t fit in with any of the 40+ year old women. She seemed to have much more in common with the 20-something year olds. That’s because, like I mentioned, youth is a state of mind. Liza was spiritually a youthful woman who thrived on the notion of being a hardworking and powerful and caring individual. All she wanted to do was start her life over. But society told her she was too old and too inexperienced. But let’s not forget that being a stay-at-home mom is a job in itself, and a very hard one at that; much harder than any 9-5 job. A stay-at-home mom (SAHM) acts as the primary caregiver, household manager, and administrator, ensuring the daily nurturing, safety, and development of children while maintaining the home’s operational needs. Key duties include childcare, meal preparation, cleaning, scheduling, budgeting, and emotional support, requiring 24/7 availability. To break it down more thoroughly:

Core Responsibilities & Job Description

• Childcare & Development: Feeding, bathing, dressing, and supervising children; overseeing educational needs, milestones, homework, and extracurricular activities.

• Household Management: Cooking all meals, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and maintaining home organization.

• Logistics & Scheduling: Managing the family calendar, including school transport, doctor appointments, playdates, and appointments.

• Financial Administration: Managing household budgets, tracking expenses, and paying bills.

• Emotional Support: Providing nurturing, comfort, and discipline for children, while supporting the spouse. 

Key Qualifications & Skills

• Multitasking & Time Management: Ability to handle multiple, competing priorities simultaneously.

• Crisis Management & Problem Solving: Navigating unexpected illnesses, tantrums, or household emergencies.

• Interpersonal Skills: Building relationships with teachers, doctors, and coaches. 

Work Environment
The position is a 24/7, unpaid role with no sick days or scheduled breaks, requiring high adaptability to the changing needs of the family. 

The world seems to be eager – TOO eager – to punish women for getting older and choosing life paths that don’t fit “the norm”. Somehow, doing so has become the norm in itself, and that’s the biggest problem. Vera Wang once said, ‘What keeps you young is your brain and spirit.’ Let’s not forget that she herself started her life over at 40. After working at Vogue as an editor for 17 years, she started her own venture as a wedding dress designer. It was something she started with the push of her dad when she struggled to find a suitable, modern wedding gown for herself, which inspired her to fill this market gap. She designed dresses for the Kardashians to Michelle Obama and women around the world covet her wedding gowns, which cost thousands of dollars.

Success doesn’t give a shit about age. It only cares about your willingness to work; and to do so without excuses. Liza Miller’s journey showcased exactly that. She took matters into her own hands and proved herself to be worthy; even if it took her to take extreme measures to do so. She still did it. By the end of the series’ run, she ran her own damn company. She continued her successful career in publishing as a confident, experienced woman, having moved past the need to lie about her age. In fact, she embraced her age. She didn’t allow anyone define her; not by her age , gender, relationship status or otherwise. The only thing I would’ve changed is that instead of Liza’s open-ending with Josh, her younger ex-boyfriend, for Liza and Kelsey leaving the publishing firm entirely to open up their own firm. BOOM!