When Age Makes You Invisible

Marnie is 62, sharp as ever, and still working in a tech company. She told me recently:
“It’s like I’ve disappeared. In meetings I share an idea, and five minutes later someone repeats it — and everyone nods. It’s not nasty, just as if I’m less visible than I used to be.”

Marnie isn’t alone. Recent Australian research shows this is widespread:

• 73% of people over 50 feel that society listens less to them as they age.
• In the workplace, 42% feel less visible after 50, and 83% feel undervalued.
• Many older Australians report being socially isolated or overlooked, with loneliness linked to poorer wellbeing.
• And in one survey, 42% of people 65+ felt their identity was not understood by even their closest loved ones.

That’s a lot of invisibility.

So, what can you do if you feel unseen? Here are some small but powerful shifts:

• Step in early. Don’t wait to be invited — contribute at the start of the discussion. Presence gets noticed.
• Find your allies. One or two people will back you. Build on those relationships and let them amplify your ideas.
• Tell a story. Facts may be ignored, but a lived experience stops people mid-scroll or mid-meeting.
• Ask to be included. A simple “I’d like to be part of that decision” can reset assumptions.
• Seek spaces where you shine. Smaller circles, volunteering, mentoring, intergenerational projects — often these settings value perspective more.
• Cut off mid sentence? Thank the person and then say, “If you’ll allow me to finish….”. Others will love your courage.

The truth is, invisibility isn’t inevitable. You have the right to be heard, to be valued, and to take up space.

Have you ever felt invisible — at work, in your community, even in your own family? What helped you push back against it?