The Naked TruthHow older women can fight ‘invisibility’ and regain sexual energy and self-confidence
- As women get older they can feel increasingly ‘unseen’, marginalised by a society that gives little time or respect to ageing females
- Ways to boost self-confidence include sharing your wealth of experience with others and treating sex as less about performance and more about pleasure
When my girlfriend jokingly told me that she has discovered a special superpower that allows her to be “invisible”, my heart sank because I knew exactly what she was implying, as I’m sure lots of women do.
Jo, now in her late 50s, was a bubbly beautiful blonde when she was young. She used to be an environmental activist and travelled the world.
As women age, they feel increasingly “unseen” by society and are shunned by those younger, who are also often perceived to be more capable and worthwhile.
Women tend to suffer from this invisibility more than older men who seem to remain relatively visible. The emergence of grey hair turns many men into “silver foxes”, while women are slapped with terms like “old maid” and “spinster”.
Older women, silver-haired or not, often feel marginalised by this increasingly common social phenomenon that gives little time or respect to ageing females. It affects older women in many aspects of life because if they are not being seen, their chances of getting a job, being promoted, or appreciated in both professional and private settings are significantly lower.
In our society, being invisible hurts. When people can’t see you, it makes you feel worthless and redundant.