Thank you for this very thoughtful piece Salwa. It’s that unspoken sense of shock and awe that gets me. “You mean women can still do this? At this age?” Like we’re expected to curl up and wither as we get older. I’m in my late 50’s and certifying as a counsellor. I have every intention of taking space and growing older disgracefully. Of disgracefully means continuing to be curious, always ready to learn and refusing to go “quietly into the night”
I love this, Salwa, and I was talking about this - not Demi - but this topic the other day with another woman writer who said, women do it to women as much as men do it to women. Which is sad.
The “you can do anything at any age” narrative often feels like a feel-good band-aid over a deeper issue - systemic biases that make success harder to achieve for certain groups in the first place.
That is such an empowering writing, age should not make a difference to their worth. Definitely worth the read.. A brilliant piece. Age is not a failure more experiences should be glorified.
Thanks Salwa. While reading, I also thought about the film 80 for Brady starring Moreno, Fonda, Field, Tomlin. These seem to be the go-to older white female actors. So there's also this hierarchy of which older women are seen, when they do get roles. In the case of 80 for Brady, there is the glaring absence of an older non-white identifying woman in the group. Loretta Divine has managed to get in a few films as she has aged. However, I'm still longing to see an aged cast version of Waiting to Exhale (RIP Whitney).
More thoughtful nuggets to chew on. Every time I read one of your essays, I am blown away by your quiet, thoughtful...no, intentional way of expressing your beliefs...your becoming. It encourages your readers to reach beyond where they are.
Thank you for this very thoughtful piece Salwa. It’s that unspoken sense of shock and awe that gets me. “You mean women can still do this? At this age?” Like we’re expected to curl up and wither as we get older. I’m in my late 50’s and certifying as a counsellor. I have every intention of taking space and growing older disgracefully. Of disgracefully means continuing to be curious, always ready to learn and refusing to go “quietly into the night”
I love this, Salwa, and I was talking about this - not Demi - but this topic the other day with another woman writer who said, women do it to women as much as men do it to women. Which is sad.
The “you can do anything at any age” narrative often feels like a feel-good band-aid over a deeper issue - systemic biases that make success harder to achieve for certain groups in the first place.
Well said! 👏👏👏👏
Love your quiet revolution 🙏🏽💚, thank you for your insight and brooding my perspective.
That is such an empowering writing, age should not make a difference to their worth. Definitely worth the read.. A brilliant piece. Age is not a failure more experiences should be glorified.
Good reading from good thoughts.
Well said 💞
Thanks Salwa. While reading, I also thought about the film 80 for Brady starring Moreno, Fonda, Field, Tomlin. These seem to be the go-to older white female actors. So there's also this hierarchy of which older women are seen, when they do get roles. In the case of 80 for Brady, there is the glaring absence of an older non-white identifying woman in the group. Loretta Divine has managed to get in a few films as she has aged. However, I'm still longing to see an aged cast version of Waiting to Exhale (RIP Whitney).
More thoughtful nuggets to chew on. Every time I read one of your essays, I am blown away by your quiet, thoughtful...no, intentional way of expressing your beliefs...your becoming. It encourages your readers to reach beyond where they are.