Hi everyone, this is my very first post, so please be kind (also, I used AI to help edit this because English is not my first language).
I’m a 33-year-old woman, and for as long as I can remember, people have treated me in a very patronizing way, like my opinions don’t matter, or I’m not taken seriously. Very often when I speak, people interrupt me or don’t listen at all. (Luckily, my partner doesn’t do this, but it happens often with others.)
This happens in both casual and professional settings. I know I look a few years younger than I am, but I would still like to be treated like an adult. I’ve also been told that my resting face makes me look confused or lost, and maybe that contributes, but I’m tired of feeling invisible or underestimated.
I struggle with confidence, especially now that I’ve started a new job and I’m having trouble making my voice heard. I’m not looking for generic “believe in yourself” advice. What I’d really appreciate are practical tips I can use in daily life, things I can do differently in how I speak, carry myself, or interact with others to be taken more seriously.
Has anyone gone through something similar and found ways to break this pattern? Any real-life insights or suggestions would mean a lot. Thanks!