Aging Stereotypes: Can You Be More Feeble?
The direction was clear. But I was unmistakably confused.
I glanced quizzically at the director. He nodded at me, not so much picking up on my confusion but more to let me know it was time for me to ‘be more feeble’.
This direction occurred when I was on set for a national commercial highlighting a new offer from a leading telecommunications brand. The scene called for me to be a 65-year-old grandmother driving my young grandson to a well-known mobile store to get three new smart phones with a discounted family plan.
Following the director’s suggestion to ‘be more feeble’, I proceeded to quickly interpret what this meant in the context of the scene itself.
An actor’s talent is in their choices. In this instance, the choice was simple. Embody a feeble old woman driving her grandson to a mobile store. Even though this was not in the original script, this is precisely what I did.
What did being ‘more feeble’ have to do with the commercial or phones?
Absolutely nothing.
What does this have to do with how women over 60 perceive themselves?
Everything.
This article and accompanying video are part of a new series titled The Invisible Customer with All the Money®.In this series, we will focus on how we, as women over 60, can begin telling ourselves a new and better story about what we can be, do, and experience through self-love.
They Are Calling the Shots
After the scene, the casting director enthusiastically came up to me. We have a longstanding relationship, as she has helped me get booked for other commercials over the years.
She said, “Joanie, you really are a magician at improvisation. Great job on adjusting to changes in the script.”
I thanked her and asked if she had any insights on how being ‘more feeble’ became the focus of the commercial, since it was not part of the original audition.
She took a moment to consider her answer and then bluntly said, “The ad agency changed it at the last minute. They’ve got the money and are calling the shots.”
10 Steps to Change Your Narrative
It’s true the ad agency and their client were paying for this, which gives them some control over the narrative. But what about the consumer with all the money? Don’t we have a say in any of this?
Let us look at 10 steps on how we, the women over 60, can reclaim our narrative of self-empowerment from decades of false storytelling in the media.
Self-Reflection
Recognize and appreciate the value of your experiences. Every challenge is a lesson learned, which contributes to the rich tapestry of your life.
Journal Milestones
Maintain a journal or a scrapbook where you write down life’s milestones, achievements, and experiences, celebrating every step.
Community Engagement
Connect with like-minded people who share similar views on aging gracefully and are openly supportive of self-love.
Engage in Digital Storytelling
Blogs, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook groups are ideal places to share inspirational personal stories about dispelling ageism myths and setting new narratives about life after 60.
Education & Workshops
Attend workshops or enroll in online classes that help you learn new skills and empower you to share stories of personal growth.
Inspiring Content
Engage with content that challenges societal norms about aging, self-love, and health after 60. Consider penning down your own articles, memoir or essays that reflect your unique perspectives on life, love, and aging.
Engage in Public Speaking
Offer to speak at community centers, schools, or do online videos to share your experiences and insights of life after 60. Also, start your own YouTube channel and share your insights and wisdom to inspire others.
Challenge Stereotypes
When you encounter negative stories or false stereotypes in the media about life after 60 don’t just accept it as fact. Question their authenticity. Engage in discussions that promote a more positive and realistic view of aging and love after 60.
Physical Wellness
Engaging in physical activities promotes health and helps relieve you of stress and anxiety. It also serves as a testament to the vitality and vibrancy of life beyond 60.
Travel
Travel as much as your circumstances allow. When you do, be sure to share travel stories on social media and with friends offline.
Inner Empowerment
Each of us have a wealth of experiences, timely insights, and timeless lessons that deserve to be shared and celebrated.
By taking proactive steps to narrate your personal tales, you positively shift your own mindset not to mention help change the societal narrative.
The key to all of this is to remember changing your narrative is an inside-job. Overwriting negative stories in the media is about your inner-empowerment. This means you no longer give away your power to any outside influence.
When you tell a new story about yourself, you’re reshaping your legacy and inspiring others to do the same. For you are not just positively changing your own life, you are also empowering women of all generations.
I invite you to join me in the video at the top of the article where I will share five additional steps to rewrite the narrative of life after 60.
Please Join the Conversation:
How are you rewriting the media’s narrative of life after 60? Have you been told to be “more feeble”? How have you responded to such situations?
Tags Empowerment
any company portraying a senior being feeble, unless they are selling a product to aid that person, should be on notice that people of that age group will no longer be buying their product, even as a gift. if that person was a man, would the company still ask him to be feeble?
Feeble people should not be driving a car!
I don’t have to write a blog or share or travel to be less feeble. Why isn’t making your nest and loving the life you have prepared for yourself important. All I read about is you should travel, join groups have a purpose, on and on. I’m 67 yo and I like my life. I live alone on a beautiful island, I made this life for myself here. I don’t want to go anywhere, I’m comfortable. That is important to me.
I understand and appreciate your perspective, Deborah. I also get tired of all the advice about how to “do” aging and retirement. Envy you loving on a beautiful island.
Deborah I 100% agree with you. Being happy is personal in my view. It is knowing what makes you happy and doing it. Some people love travel, others don’t. I’ve seen some of most continents and satisfied my curiosity and doing any more I know will only add stress to my life. Like you, I’m a nest builder. I enjoy improving and maintaining my little nest, and I’m happy with my own company when my hubby is away, and that of other creatures who visit me, especially birds. I have a couple of really good friends and a few family I keep in touch with. I too am comfortable. I think perhaps we are amongst the lucky group who have managed to get our nest sorted and be happy and content with our lives.
I’ve got a blog, silverwings21@wordpress.com, obviously had it way before reading it here, I love writing about my days my thoughts my asperations and talking to other bloggers
My understanding is that some of us have become complacent and feel hopeless. The writer is reminding us that there are options. However, I totally understand your point of view. I’ve come to love my quirky – but happy – life living on my terms. Everyone isn’t a “group” person. Some of us wish to travel, but cannot. The one thing that bugs me to no end is being constantly urged to downsize! Why? I love the things that I love and I love them around me. I’m an artist and Not a minimalist by any means. So, to me when I keep hearing that we should downsize, I refuse to embrace that stereotype. Ladies, just do and live in a way that pleases you. At 71, I think I can make that decision 😌
Amen to this! I, too, feel the same way. I have accumulated some wonderful things during my lifetime and enjoy living with them. I am trying to simplify some of the aspects of my life, such as addressing a large collection of wonderful clothing. In retirement, I moved to a different part of the country, and people dress very casually here. Although I have very few dressy garments, even my beautiful skirts don’t get worn much now. Still not ready to send them down the road.
Just last week someone posted a meme about people watching hot air balloons. There was an illustration labeled “over 70 years old” and it was a feeble woman with gray hair in a bun and walking with a cane. I replied saying, “I will be 70 years old next year and I’m still helping my friend, aged 73, launch, chase, and pack up his hot air balloon!”
Bravo 👌🏽
Thank you. This was a real eye opener. I think if someone told me to be “more feeble” I would challenge them to an arm wrestling duel. Or maybe ask them to help me stack the ton of hay I just hauled in.
I had thoughts of a similar type. But I was impressed at the work ethic displayed. While she disliked the portrayal of her age group, she knew that she was being paid to do a job. Employees should always remember that they aren’t “the boss”. If they don’t like their job, then they should find another one. This actor did as she was told and did it well. She was chosen for the job because she could be relied on to produce what they asked for. And now she has shared her thoughts so that hopefully she can make a difference to the world moving forward.