Changing the Narrative about Gender and Aging by Telling Other Women’s Stories
When we were growing up, many of us saw movies and read stories about beautiful, young princesses and ugly old witches with large warts on their pointed noses. We learned from stories and from our own observations that being young is desirable and being old is undesirable. It is not surprising that research shows that even as children, many of us develop negative views of older people—especially older females.
It is time that we start telling more stories about amazing older women who have influenced us. Some of those women may be family members, and others might be women from the past.
A woman from the past who inspired me was the anti-slavery crusader and great American suffragist Susan B. Anthony. Ms. Anthony understood the deeply embedded power inequities in the country. Only certain people had the power to make decisions and ‘rule’ over others, including women. Newspapers, places of worship, and communities reinforced such inequities through language that described obedient, meek women who ‘knew their proper place’ as godly women.
After the age of fifty, Ms. Anthony did some of her best work and continued to be a national leader for her cause into her eighties. In spite of criticism and setbacks, Susan B. Anthony was a woman who had a strong sense of purpose, and nothing was going to stop her as long as she lived. I’ve written about this courageous woman, shared stories with family members, and have given public presentations about her life and work. Learning about her life helped empower me as a fearless older woman. I hope sharing her story may help others see the power that women over fifty can possess.
Another extraordinary older woman many of us love to talk about is the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a contemporary champion of women’s rights and human rights. By the time she was in her eighties, girls and women of every age recognized her as one of America’s most influential and inspirational women. And, despite her advanced age, her demanding schedule, and her multiple bouts with cancer, Justice Ginsburg made time to work out with a trainer twice a week. Her routine included stretches, planks, push-ups, chest presses, squats, and hip abductor exercises.6 She was still serving on the Court when she passed at eighty-seven. All kinds of RBG memorabilia—tee-shirts, mugs, and even an action figure—attest to the fact that she had become a superstar for women of all ages.
Sharing stories of strong, influential older women can help change the narrative about women over fifty. We can share stories about older family members, women we have met, and women who will be remembered throughout time for their contributions to women and others. If you don’t have a favorite older woman that you can talk about with others, I would highly recommend reading Gail Collins’ 2019 book, No stopping Us Now: A History of Older Women in America. Collins writes about many of my favorite women, including Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Clara Barton, Ida May Fuller, Ella Baker, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mother Jones, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
If you discover (or have) a favorite influential older woman, it isn’t hard to find ways to share her story. Telling family members about an older woman who influenced you can also reinforce the message that women over fifty can do great things. Posting information about inspiring older women on social media is another way to start changing the narrative about gender and aging. If you are so inclined, writing short articles or giving public presentations about your favorite influential older women is another way to spread the word—women at every age can change the world.
As Gloria Steinem, a former journalist and co-founder of Ms. Magazine, once said, “Women grow radical with age. One day, an army of gray-haired women may quietly take over the earth.”7 Let’s talk about these courageous women who are changing the world!