adjective \ˈyəŋ\

a state of being less credible than your contemporaries and/or an untrustworthy decision-maker, not denoted by numeric age but by physical qualities such as small stature, wrinkle-free skin, curly or “wild” hair, and/or having a vagina a person who has “plenty of time” for things to work out on their own, necessitating no assistance or action on the part of anybody else, even those people whose job it is to offer said action too ambitious, as determined by male superiors

Traditional Definition: in an early stage of life, growth, or development; not yet old

Still “young”

In Context:

As a female of any age, you may be called upon to answer for your “youngness” at work. Though you might initially be pleased with the implication, this adjective that has nothing to do with your actual age or physical appearance. It is a descriptor generally used by men who find your ambition irritating at the moment and want you to stop bothering them about career advancement. It is usually spoken in an attempt to remind you that time is on your side and, as a result, your impatience with their lack of advice and assistance is entirely unwarranted. Unfortunately, stating your numeric age will not alter their argument, nor will it cause them to start addressing you in an appropriately respectful tone. It will instead generally cause a momentary change said colleague’s definition of what constitutions non-old.

There are several ways to deal with this arbitrarily-wielded semi-pejorative comment. Attempting to dress more maturely is one, though you may invite ridicule for either looking “matronly” or sexual harassment for looking “sexy.” You may consider questioning your supposed “youngness” and offering mathematical evidence to the contrary. In response you will undoubtedly hear that looking young is a great advantage and that you’ll be happy to have it later in life. This is a common misconception on the part of both men and women worldwide, however looking young will never become an advantage in the workplace and the implication of this comment is that your primary goal should instead be to be an attractive dating prospect and nothing more. This kind of comment has no place in a professional environment and wielders of it should be reminded of such.

The best strategy is to continue to be annoyingly ambitious and treat your boss like an out-of-touch, somewhat foggy-minded elderly person whose powers of observation simply cannot be trusted anymore. Ask them about their memories of the 1920s and/or their first time sending a telegram. Offer to assist them with making the font larger on their iPhone 6, a phone they can afford the latest model of because somebody once promoted them.

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