Ageism

Issue

I received a job offer at a nonprofit. When I told the director that the salary was less than I had expected, she asked what I would need it for since I was “young and single”.

Possible Responses

• Appeal to shared values. “I would like to be a part of an ethical and just organization. I hope that my income is a reflection of my work and experience, not my age and marital status.”
• “Could you tell me more about how compensation decisions are made?”
• “My understanding of labor law is that those are not appropriate salary considerations.”1