Once deemed over the hill, 50 is now the age of personal and professional success. These three well-known women sing the praises of their age to Kelly Baker.
A generation or two ago, we lived in a vastly different Australia to the one we live in today. Telephones had cords, seatbelts were optional and women over the age of 50 were past their prime. Indeed, the consensus was that women were at their best between their 20s and 30s. By 40, it was assumed their lustre was dimming and by 50, Australian women were seen as middle-aged and ready to fade into the background.
Today, 50-plus women are doing anything but fading. In fact, they are discovering that growing up can be an infinitely brighter, more exhilarating and exciting experience than previous generations thought possible. For example, research shows that in areas such as body image, intimate relationships, careers and friendships, a large proportion of women over 50 are happier than at any other period of their lives.
“In the past, it was as though you reached this age and you lost something … today, it’s all about what you gain,” says Dr Amanda Deeks, a senior research psychologist at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health in Melbourne. “We’ve effectively redefined middle-age.”
A second, Chicago-based study found that over-50s were not only happier, more confident and more socially active than their mothers were at the same age, they were also happier than younger women. “The majority of today’s older women truly feel at their peak personally, professionally, financially and psychologically,” says lead study author Marti Barletta. “They are what I’ve come to call ‘The Prime Time Women’.”
According to this research, mid-life women are extremely contented. They feel more in control and see their futures as filled with opportunity. They’re not unrealistic – they know life may well throw them a curve ball, but they feel equipped with the life skills to handle it. There’s a multitude of reasons behind this shift, with self-belief and boosted confidence perhaps the most significant. Yet there is no doubt that today’s women also have the anti-ageing edge over previous generations, thanks to significant scientific breakthroughs in nutrition, medicine and exercise. Women eat better, get regular health checks and know that exercise keeps fat levels low and muscle and bones strong – all of which significantly slow the ageing process.
“Women in their 40s, 50s and older are out there lifting barbells, paddling kayaks and running,” says Paula Goodyer, author of Fit And Firm For Ever (Random House, $34.95), who adds that, in 2010, a 50-year-old woman is likely to look a decade younger than her grandmother did. That’s also thanks to women’s changing attitudes to what they wear.
Grown-up women have discarded matronly garb in favour of beautiful clothing in all shapes and shades. Skincare has also been embraced; if a particular cosmetic happens to be costly, women have the cash to pay for it. And let’s not forget significant advancements in the field of cosmetic surgery. Thanks to the introduction of muscle relaxants, such as Botox, and skin boosters, including Restylane, today’s 50-plus woman can stay looking youthful for longer. Better still, she can do so without going under the knife.
Read more of this story in the October issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly.
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