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| Harriet Harman photo: Getty |
Let's have a big round of applause for my local MP (and Labour's deputy leader and shadow culture secretary) Harriet Harman. On the day when UK broadcasters and the Older Women's Commission were meeting to discuss discrimination against female TV presenters over the age of 50, Harman remarked:
'Broadcasters behave as though the viewing public have to be protected from the sight of an older woman and that's just rude. There is nothing wrong with being an older woman. We've got to fight back against this sense that older women are less valuable, whereas men accumulate wisdom authority and experience as they age.'
Hear, hear. Now, you've probably seen this already but I think the front page of today's Guardian - highlighting the statistics from a new study - is worth another look:
And now for my two pennies worth... I'm so bored with the media's unhealthy obsession with youth. And the fact that to remain in the limelight, talented women are expected not to show any signs of ageing, to dye their hair and pump their faces full of Botox and fillers and what have you. Whilst male counterparts are left to go grey and wrinkly, in peace. It's just not on. And it's really shocking that such blatant ageism and sexism is allowed within these big corporations. Julie Walters, 63, was spot on. Where is Anna Ford? Why can't she be on the news? Why can't fantastic women like Joan Bakewell, 79, be on TV more often? She was brilliant on Have I Got News For You.
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| Anna Ford, aged 69. |
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| Joan Bakewell wearing the thinking woman's earrings. |
As fashion broadcaster and co-founder of All Walks Beyond The Catwalk Caryn Franklin, 54, said on Woman's Hour today (there was a brilliant feature on older models with Franklin and the fabulous, 84-year-old model Daphne Selfe), 'It's not just about older women seeing older models, it's about younger women seeing older women too.'
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| Caryn Franklin. Photo: Getty. |
Yes, I think women over 50 (who aren't dyed and spanxed and botoxed beyond recognition) are almost culturally invisible, at least as far as the media goes. And I love the point about younger women needing to see images of older women too.
ReplyDeleteI love your rant about the lack of older women......make me feel very frustrated and disillusioned too. Joan Bakewell was fab on HIGNFY, but the men went on about her claiming free travel and they didn't do that with the older men. Even in jest it's still sexism.
ReplyDeleteCaryn Franklin looks amazing, better than 25 year ago when presenting The Clothes show.
Where are they? Right here! Following you and nodding, "Yes." And using our considerable buying clout to drive the majority of purchasing decisions... because we control the majority of the wealth in this country. Look us in the eye, sellers, or we'll vote you out with our pocketbooks! Right on, sister!
ReplyDeleteAnother thing....Joan Bakewell has chandelier earrings!!! Must be following your blog x
ReplyDeleteI am a German living in the US and the youth worship here is even worse than in Europe. Often times, non the newscasts all you see is the blond followed by the bland.
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ReplyDeleteHer quote is so spot on...it is frustrating to feel so useful and intelligent and not be respected in the work place. Businesses who tap this resource (all of the experience of women over 50) would be rewarded in profits for it!
ReplyDeletei'm with you. it is time we women revolt. i'm so over the pressure to look young. it's sad really. here in southern california, the pressure is enormous and giving in to all the crap being pushed on us looks awful in the end. i'm frankly bored with it too.
ReplyDeleteIn total agreement with every word.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Bored with it, sad and angry about it. The double standard is absurd. Look at George Clooney aged 50-something and still considered a sex symbol - what shock there would be if he dated a 50-something woman!
ReplyDeleteBravo! And yes, as Cornelia said, ageism in the U.S. media is the worst!
ReplyDeleteMy sister and I watched a program where Candace Bergen said she has reached an age where people look through you. I told my sister if they do that to her, we don't stand a chance. So what you said.....
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! Or is that Here! here! ??
ReplyDeleteVery well said.
You had me at your title... And what a pleasure these faces are to see!
ReplyDeleteOne might also say, where are the women over 50 who even play bit parts (other than someone's annoying mother-in-law) in our film and television? Where is anyone clearly over 50 other than the Roger Sterling character on Mad Men? And in "real life," where are all of the women (especially) 50+ with stores of expertise and talent and experience to go when the job market shows them the door or winnows down opportunities to such a meager set that we can barely make do???
More real faces, real wrinkles, real crinkles at the corners of the eyes from a lifetime of living and laughing would be a good start...
(Daily Plate of Crazy)
Anna Ford still looks stunning (especially compared to all the men shown!) so if the TV bosses are obsessed with looks they should pick her rather than the men, plus she has the experience and the talent. It's a crazy world.
ReplyDeleteI was fortunate in the work-place as I worked until after I was 60 -and only stopped because we were moving to Spain. I used to go to lunch with my younger colleagues (who were in their 20s and 30s) rather then the ones in their 50s as I had more in common with them. Many of us were keen runners, plus we had the same sense of humour, and I admit that I found my older colleagues a bit staid! I would also like to think that I was a positive role model to my younger female colleagues by still working at 60+.
One reason the media reeks of ageism when it comes to women is the demographic impact of advertising. But in real life, I'm 66 and have friends of all ages. My "seasoned" friends are all vital, interesting, natural, beautiful women. My friends learn from each other, regardless of age.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is an interesting and supportive conversation to have among us, the conversation would be so very interesting to have with younger women. We live under patriarchy, and while we women do have financial power, it is not enough. The glass ceiling still exists. Women would need not only to control the networks but also not to denigrate the appearances of women.
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, when I grew out my gray hair, I became invisible to men, but not to women. On the other hand, female strangers who comment on my appearance often make interesting assumptions: they ask if I am an artist or performer. Why? Because the assumption is that a woman with gray hair in her sixties who wears a motorcycle jacket, boots, and red lipstick must not be a "normal" old woman, the invisible kind.
It would be nice if the print media would recognize our demographic as well. Magazines for woman are almost exclusively aimed at the young. And if not the young, the want to look young.
ReplyDeleteGreat post to read today, as I turn 60! Love to see another great namesake for my granddaughter Harriet to look up to. . .
ReplyDeleteWell let's just all keep posting photos. Scads of them.
ReplyDeleteLove the little insider's humor on the thinking woman's earrings.
ReplyDeleteI understand it though. The older women who are actually in position to be presenters are all very powerful and that power is very evident in a way that contradicts everything society is taught about them. Because, we still don't have a paradigm for powerful women as well as men sharing the playing field. It's unprecedented.
ReplyDeleteWe need to create it in a way that enhances everyone - it would happen naturally, but marketers approach it from too mental a place and can mess it up if we're not careful. LOVE this post.
Sorry to go on, but I'm from the US and was happily surprised and fascinated to see so many older women actors in the programs. None of those women would ever get those parts in US television at this point. It felt so good to see them. I am 34.
I think we are fabulous when we dont let the .......s grind or even put , us down .
ReplyDeleteBe as fab as you can ladies and dont give in to ageism . I dont . I wont . but do try to be elegant /graceful its not that hard if you can smile and if you enjoy dressing . I do . I manage on a very low and fixed income .
Excellent post and comments here, not sure why it is but different in France. In London it's as if the older woman doesn't exist whereas in France they do. the first time I experienced this, thought I had something wrong with my outfit as was being looked at and had forgotten what that was like.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to brave the ramparts in work mode and band together when women are attacked as in the recent twitter deluge.