Shelina Janmohamed is an author and a culture columnist for The National
August 18, 2023
I was brought up with the strict social norm that it was rude to ask a woman her age. One of the best compliments you could give a woman – and still is: "you don’t look your age!" Women, it would seem, are ephemeral spirits, forever young, and forever beholden to the beauty ideals of youth.
Yet, when women hit their 50s, they themselves often talk about suddenly becoming "invisible". People don’t hear or see them. Hollywood’s female actors point out how few roles there are for older women, compared to those for older men. It’s often a symptom of a wider workplace issue. Older women describe being in situations of professional erasure – despite being at the peak of their careers. I see this as the "erasure-vilification" paradox.
In many cases, beauty ideals still govern a woman’s societal value. Think back to the tagline of the cosmetics company L’Oreal: “Because you’re worth it”. The messaging from some quarters seems to be that if a woman is not young and beautiful, what apparently even is her worth?
A participant applies a double eyelid tape backstage before the Middle Age and Senior Modelling Contest in Beijing, on July 22. Reuters
But age should be immaterial in a society where we aim to go beyond the animalistic and aspire to give each human being value based on dignity, social worth, character and contribution. Add to that, considering we now live in a world where people often live well into their 80s, the negativity accorded to "old" women seems even more anachronistic.
For the September issue of Vogue magazine – the one always considered the "big" one in marketing terms – they have recreated a 1990s cover with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford. The women are all now in their 50s, so this is a striking moment to put older beauty on the western stage. And it’s hard not to feel that this is a kind of progress.
But it is and it isn’t. The kind of beauty ideals these supermodels represented were always unattainable for a vast number of women. Not only are they still unattainable but they reinforce the expectation that older women need to look younger to still be considered valuable. They need to not "look their age", because the subtext of that continues to be, showing your age is not a good thing.
It’s a recurring theme among older women who are included in advertisements and on magazine covers. Although some might add that this is simply a recognition that they have money to spend. And what better way to encourage consumer spending on anti-ageing products than older women being portrayed as not looking their age?
It cannot be the case that only if older women are successful or powerful or rich do they have value
The sad part is that the vilification of older women is unwittingly often upheld by younger women. I say this as someone who in her youth thought anyone over 40 was very old and that age was something to be scared of, even – gently – reviled. When I was first called "auntie" by a child, I nearly had heart failure. I was in my twenties then and felt revulsion at the thought of being deemed old.
Mhairi Black, a 28-year-old UK MP recently referred to her critics as "50-year-old Karens", the women she felt were holding back societal progress. In her phrase, there are overtones of sexism and racism but it is just another sad demonstration of how so many people – including women – underestimate the interplay between misogyny and ageism.
Mhairi Black, Scottish National Party MP, on March 9, 2023. UK Parliament
The stereotypes of "the hag" or "the harridan", or "the hysterical" (read: menopausal) hang over countless older women. After all, what can societies do with those who don't fit expected beauty ideals and might also wield opinions and power? At a certain point, women have lived life, found themselves and their voices and are unwilling to be cowed by society’s constraints.
Forbes has just released its third annual 50 over 50 list of women. The announcement says, “age can be your superpower”. And it’s wonderful to see that the categories are lifestyle, impact, innovation and impact. This is a list that demonstrates complexity, self-belief, opinions and change and we need more of them. More women of a certain age being represented in the business world and influential fashion magazines would be a welcome change in society, broadly speaking.
The only caution I would urge is the risk of entrenching the problem. Which is to say, it cannot be the case that only if older women are successful or powerful or rich do they have value. Current norms begrudgingly accept that these metrics fill the space of youth and beauty when they are gone. Because, well at least the women are making money.
But what about all the other average older women who want to be valued for the worth they know they have, without being a supermodel or a super CEO, and who are not the stereotypes of witchy, overbearing nosy "aunties", vicious mothers-in-law or doddering grannies?
Women should not have to uphold beauty ideals to be visible. They should not need to hide their opinions to avoid being vilified. They exist. And the way to lift the nefarious fog on society is to break the erasure-vilification paradox.
George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
Last 10 NBA champions
2017: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-1
2016: Cleveland bt Golden State 4-3
2015: Golden State bt Cleveland 4-2
2014: San Antonio bt Miami 4-1
2013: Miami bt San Antonio 4-3
2012: Miami bt Oklahoma City 4-1
2011: Dallas bt Miami 4-2
2010: Los Angeles Lakers bt Boston 4-3
2009: Los Angeles Lakers bt Orlando 4-1
2008: Boston bt Los Angeles Lakers 4-2
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
Priority access to new homes from participating developers
Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
Flexible payment plans from developers
Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1) Where: Wanda Metropolitano When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
MWTC info
Tickets to the MWTC range from Dh100 and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ae or by calling 800 86 823 from within the UAE or 971 4 366 2289 from outside the countryand all Virgin Megastores. Fans looking to attend all three days of the MWTC can avail of a special 20 percent discount on ticket prices.
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
