How do you feel your confidence has changed over the past 10 years?
My confidence in my abilities and the wisdom I’ve gained from all my experiences has increased in my fifties. By physical confidence has taken a hit after breaking my ankle and enduring a 12 month recovery process.
Why do you think that is?
I think after a serious injury we can start to lose our confidence – especially as single very independent women.
Do you feel invisible in some aspects of your life? How does that show up?
I feel invisible on a daily basis in shops. In a fish and chip shop recently a girl actually served the man behind me and skipped me out. I feel society’s conditioning makes us ‘not see’ older single women.
Tell me about an older woman that inspires you and why. Describe how she makes you feel.
I don’t really have anyone older who inspires me. I think there is a real lack of older female role models. The patriarchy ensures that we revere Kylie Minogue and Jennifer Aniston but these people are symbols of the system – used to sell anti ageing treatments. I want to see more cultured learned women and I want to hear what wisdom they have acquired.
What worries you about ageing?
It worries me how other people treat ageing like it’s a disease. This is because in a capitalist society it’s the ultimate sin.
What excites you about ageing?
I’m excited about becoming more comfortable in my skin and being a mentor to younger women.
What advice would you give your 15 year old self?
I would tell my 15 year old self that the culture surrounding me (including my family) was full of something called toxic masculinity and that just because I was born a girl that did not make me inferior to my brother.
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