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?