The 73-year-old actress believes that the social phenomenon – which devalues women in society as they age – is a “real, really large issue in the medical world” and she’s determined to fight back against it.
Jane told People: “A lot of women, sort of [age] 50 on, just kind of hide away and expect not to be listened to or heard.
“It’s a real, really large issue in the medical world because you have to empower women to actually stand up for their rights.”
Despite her fame and success, Jane experiences ‘unseenism’ every time she gets her car repaired.
She explained: “I mean, to be perfectly honest, if I take a car in to be fixed, and there’s a guy there – usually a guy – they don’t really pay much attention.”
She shared that if she brought a male friend along with her, the mechanic will look over her head and speak directly to him.
Jane previously revealed that she’s also experienced ‘unseenism’ when she’s been to visit a doctor.
The phenomenon can have an impact on a woman’s health, according to Jane, who has found her own way of dealing with her anxiety.
The movie star – who played Solitaire in the 1973 James Bond film ‘Live and Let Die’ – told People: “I get that ‘doctor’s nervous’ thing, even though I’m a doctor’s daughter and I played one on TV.
“I always either have someone else with me to take notes, or I’ve just asked for permission to record it, because I don’t always take it in at the time that I’m told it. And I don’t want to be told, ‘Oh, you’re losing it. Maybe we should check you for dementia, or you’re not listening, or you’re just an older woman. That’s what happens in life.'”
The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman actress was speaking up as part of a new role partnering with biopharmaceutical company Insmed’s to raise awareness of gender and age biases in healthcare.
