As mentioned already, I love this post, as well as your blog. I’ve included this particular post on my weekly cups of tea which will post Sunday, April 4th – PDT. Stop on by and have a peek. I just have a feeling my readers will appreciate what you have to say.

Geez, you are a busy girl. Running a business, adopting a dog, keeping a hubby happy… What else have you not told us you are doing ? (Working on a cure to malaria perhaps? LOL

Keep it up. Proud of you!

The thing is, I still think we live in the greatest, most amazing country in the world. I’m an American citizen by choice, not by birth, and I don’t regret taking that oath of citizenship. Still, I think there will be few people out there–feminists, non-feminsts, whatever–who would argue that women are placed in such untenable positions in our own country, and so much of it is just pure misogynism disgused as humor. It’s not okay to make fun of Asians, African-Americans, Latinos, etc., for their physical attributes, but women’s appearances? Completely fair game.

I have to admit, even the Philippines has this right. Filipino women only get more respect and admiration as they get older, and while they get attached for superficial reasons in public when they do something visible such as run for public office or star in films, men get their equal share of such treatment as well. Our culture has our share of Deneuves, Hepburns, Birkins, etc., with older women well into their sixties and seventies getting plum dramatic and comedic roles, talk shows, news shows, etc. I’m not sure if America’s youth obsession is because of our nation’s relative youth, or if our culture of hyperactivity and speed means that we revere those among us who live by that ethos (i.e., the very young who generally do make decisions and move faster than their elders, not always to their benefit). Whatever the reason, I hope that as our country matures–boomers getting older, Generation X moving into middle age–that paradigm will shift. I’m not holding my breath, though.

How does one deal with this? I live in my own mental world and try and ignore the drumbeat of age that our society insists on playing, but it’s difficult, especially when we have all these ridiculous lists like, “Top Ten Under 30 Authors,” “Top Teen Stars,” etc. No one ever celebrates the “Top Ten Over 40 Authors.” We have the “Top Over-40 Actors,” but we only include those who don’t look over 40, which helps those of us who do look over forty not at all.

Hmmmm…future blog post….

On a different note: yes, it has been quite busy over here! I haven’t mentioned it here at all, but my husband and I found a Chihuahua mix stray in a local neighborhood in early February and have been fostering him ever since. Plus, our own Dog had knee surgery a couple of weeks ago and is under strict orders to remain primarily indoors for six weeks. AND I just launched a new, huge part of my business, Blue Volcano Media, and have been furiously trying to keep up. Still, I miss engaging in conversations and thoughts about all these issues that concern women and Francophiles in particular, so I’m glad to be back! How are you?

Salut,
Marjorie

How nice to open up my laptop & see your post. You must be very busy.

I have been dismayed, surprised, & rather upset by the either/or of compliments here in the States. No, I guess I “don’t look” my age but at the same time, there is some sort of radar off which one falls after a certain age in the States. It’s bizarre & you don’t really see it coming. (As I have learned from other friends & reading.) At the same time as my friends in France (& elsewhere) are coming into their prime, it is so different? It happens rather quickly & is jarring.

You are right also about the ridicule of older women & then the ridicule if they have any work done, or seem to be doing anything (really) to address the aging situation. One is absolutely damned if one does, damned if one does not.

So I’m proceeding as usual & reminding myself that the US is weird this way when I feel badly about it – which is inevitable. You’d have to have the hide of a rhino not to let it bother you, at times. Ramping up efforts to move elsewhere within two years. (Not only because of this but the side benefits will be worth it, too.)

Good luck on all of your deadlines.