How women can grow bolder AND older | Sharon Sinclair-Williams | TEDxTeessideWomen
The speaker argues that societal and patriarchal constructs marginalize older women, restricting their visibility and perceived value. She advocates for embracing an "older and bolder era" by challenging ageism and the "male gaze," illustrating this by founding a blog with the tagline *“Not passed my expiry date.”* This movement empowers women to reclaim agency and express their continuing worth. ## Speakers & Context - Unnamed speaker (identified contextually as an older woman). - Speaks to an audience regarding aging, gender roles, and societal expectations placed on women. - Notes the cycle of being taught to be "seen and not heard" as children, which circles back to older women being classified as "surplus to requirements." ## Theses & Positions - Ageism, particularly "gendered ageism," actively seeks to suppress and quieten women. - Women should reject the expectation to "age gracefully" and instead embrace aging on their own terms. - The "male gaze" historically portrayed women as sexualized objects, and women are told they age out of this status, implying a loss of worth. - Older women are not inherently unhappy, uncurious, or lacking in desire or sexual interest. - Self-worth is independent of male approval. - The "green old age" concept should be leveraged for joyful living rather than limitation. ## Concepts & Definitions - **Ageism:** General bias against older people, specifically gendered ageism against women. - **Male Gaze:** Concept first depicted in film where women are viewed as almost inanimate, sexualized objects, particularly in the context of mating. - **Green Old Age:** A phrase coined by the ancient Greek poet Homer, describing a time of life with fewer demands and therefore less stress. - **Patriarchal Construct:** A belief system that undervalues the knowledge and contributions of older people, especially women. ## Mechanisms & Processes - **Challenging Bias:** The speaker actively works to challenge her own negative internal biases regarding aging. - **Reclaiming Agency:** The act of starting a blog to narrate a "positive aging story" and assert continued visibility. - **The Call to Action:** Shifting focus from the fear of aging/death to embracing the "joy of living." - **Empowerment through Experience:** Highlighting resilience gained from later life challenges, such as completing an Iron Man challenge. ## Timeline & Sequence - **Childhood:** Taught to be "seen and not heard." - **Early Adolescence:** Driven towards viewing others as potential mates, establishing the male gaze framework. - **Midlife/Adulthood:** Experiencing the pressure points of marriage, reproduction, and the assumption of aging decline. - **Age 50+:** Confronting the societal "beep!" moment and the fear of aging/menopause. - **In the Past (Tech Work):** Working in the tech industry for almost 20 years while being older, facing being passed over for expert opinions. ## Named Entities - **Homer:** Ancient Greek poet who coined the phrase "green old age." ## Numbers & Data - **2017:** Year the speaker started her blog. - **60s:** The speaker's current decade of life discussed. - **50:** Age milestone associated with triggering fear of aging/menopause. - **5 years:** Difference in life expectancy for women in the northeast compared to London. - **20 years:** Number of years the speaker has worked in the tech industry. ## Examples & Cases - **The Male Gaze Example:** Early James Bond movies showing women always ready in the bedroom, but nothing afterward. - **The Blog:** Started in 2017, called *‘best before end date’*, with the tagline *‘Not passed my expiry date.’* - **Career Example:** The speaker working in the tech industry for almost 20 years, showing she can be "tech savvy, interested in sustainability and artificial intelligence" while older and female. - **Personal Achievement:** Completing an Iron Man challenge at 50. - **Public Speaking Example:** A 61-year-old woman from Teesside delivering a Ted talk. ## Tools, Tech & Products - **Blog:** *‘best before end date’*. - **Anti-aging products:** The industry that encourages women to buy items like hair dye and cosmetic surgery. - **Instagram:** Platform cited where irrelevant advertisements (stylists, supported living) appear. ## References Cited - **Harvard University Study:** Found that a positive mindset boosts health in people over 50 among a sample of 14,000 people. - **Ancient Greek Poet Homer:** Coined the phrase "green old age." ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - **Societal Norms vs. Reality:** The choice between conforming to the "graceful" aging narrative versus actively asserting a bold, self-defined life. - **Physical Presentation vs. Internal State:** The pressure to use anti-aging treatments (dyeing hair, surgery) versus self-acceptance. - **Focus of Fear:** The realization that fears like "a burning planet" or "creeping fascism" eclipse the fear of personal aging. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The advertising industry's tendency to display "lazy old stereotypes" rather than showcasing capable, wealthy older clientele. - The historical bias in Hollywood portraying older female actors as "lonely, housebound, infirm, divorced." - The difficulty of challenging deep-seated, internalized sexism and ageism, requiring daily personal "work." ## Methodology - **Personal Narrative & Memoir:** Using personal struggle with menopause and ageism as a springboard for argument. - **Social Analysis:** Critiquing media representations (film, advertising) and institutional norms (workplace credibility). - **Anecdotal Evidence:** Using personal accomplishments (Iron Man, blogging) to prove capability. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - Women must claim their "older and bolder era" rather than passively accepting societal timelines. - Audiences should reject the notion that wisdom and capability fade with age, especially for older women. - Audiences must actively challenge their own outdated beliefs and prejudices regarding aging. - Every person, from birth until death, possesses inherent and undeniable voice. ## Implications & Consequences - Ignoring ageism leads to older women being invisible, undervalued, and passed over in professional and social spheres. - Embracing boldness leads to professional success, personal freedom (saying "No thanks"), and the power to advocate for gender equality. - If all voices are heard, societal progress toward true gender equality is accelerated. ## Verbatim Moments - *"It’s just because by now someone is old and decrepit as me, according to society, um, should be not seen."* - *"Ageism holds everyone back, and gendered ageism in particular holds women back."* - *"I don’t want to age gracefully. I’m not doing that."* - *"I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing better than a good romp And not have to worry about ever falling pregnant again."* - *"I started a blog in 2017 and I called it ‘best before end date’ with the tagline ‘Not passed my expiry date.’"* - *"What isn't natural or shouldn't be inevitable, is that women give up their jobs at the peak of their careers."* - *"I’m free. I'm free to start a business, travel solo and explore the world."* - *"If you believe that a 50 year old woman can take part in an Iron Man challenge, like I did, then you’re probably going to want to give that a go yourself, too."* - *"It’s a patriarchal construct that seeks to undervalue older people, especially when they're women."* - *"I want them to grow up in a world where gender equality really does rule."*