THE EDIT: What is 60 for?
Female broadsheet journalists who talk about ageing are like London buses: nothing for an eternity, then three come along at once. And these particular women just nail it, writing in a way that’s totally relatable and free of frump. Jan Masters, Anna Murphy and Lisa Armstrong, I’m looking at you.
I’m delighted that these women are changing the face of ageing. And I very much hope that the media’s appetite for the PRO AGE message – which we espouse here at Studio10 – isn’t just a fad. Because although being the latest hot topic is gratifying, we are here to stay. Midlife women are finally making some noise – and we refuse to be silenced. Forget the idea that 60 is the new 50. Or the new 40.
Why can’t we just acknowledge that 60 is the new 60 and have done with it? Honour what it represents and move on? That’s what Jan Masters has been talking about in her new column in The Telegraph for the past few weeks. I love her take on it. Sure, we can all acknowledge that as life expectancy has increased, sixty-somethings who would once have considered themselves old have become “younger” in terms of health and attitude, but why do we need to hang our age on the hook of a more acceptable number?
Sixty is the new 60. Let’s own it.
Masters is vocal about the idea that sixty-somethings have a great deal to offer in the world of work, especially creatively. Because when you’ve been around the block a few times, you know a good idea when you see one. Look at how many high-achieving midlife business owners there are out there right now.
By the time i get to not-too-distant future hope image of blue-rinse retirees will finally have gone out window. course if government keeps pushing limits may never actual pensionable age masters writes about taking a leaf Japanese book. apparently your is moment it called Kanreki from words Kan and Reki viewed as rebirth. when person reaches they through zodiac cycle total five times are now back at their original birth point. so our chance start over.
In Anna Murphy talks turning she comfortable with knows what for. but wonders or might look like gets there. gives some great advice finding personal lots us struggle midlife settle on word that encapsulates you want communicate yourself dress up it. hers love this idea. Murphy is scathing about the idea of “dressing your age”. “Age-appropriateness.
One of the most irrelevant concepts around,” she writes. “To wear what you love and what you feel expresses you becomes more important than ever as you age. In a world that can still choose not to see older people, I think it’s important to get yourself seen.” Lisa Armstrong in The Telegraph is also vocal in her condemnation of the myths that surround ageing.
She skewers the idea that as we grow older we all want to look younger. Of course, some of us might say yes to it if it were offered, but that doesn’t mean we’re unhappy with the idea of ageing, full stop. We’re at a point where suddenly, all bets are off: we’re no longer sure how any age is “supposed” to look, and as women in midlife we can exploit that.
There’s never been a better time to be a proper grown-up. Why? Because suddenly, we’re all questioning the rules. Something seismic is happening. Belief systems are being turned on their heads. We’re all about fit not thin; positive ageing not anti-ageing; diversity not uniformity. This is great news for women in midlife.
Now we can celebrate our achievements and our experience. Because for too long people have been criticising us on the basis of our age – and it’s time for that rubbish to stop. I love reading the views of these three women. They’re thought-provoking, funny and super-intelligent.
They don’t take any nonsense. I urge you to do the same. And in answer to the question we came in with – what is 60 for? – for me, the answer is, whatever you bloody well want it to be.
