How many women do you know who feel, or have felt, invisible when they reached their magic fifties. How many felt and feel as though this is a Harry Potter story and they’re wearing a Cloak of Invisibility?
It’s not surprising that the results of nearly every survey you read show that as many as 7 out of 10 women feel overlooked and patronised.
WHY? I’m really not an invisible woman …
Most women will say it’s because of grey hair, wearing glasses, a thickened waist, self-confidence and perception.
Let’s not forget the odd forgetful moment too! Almost guaranteed to cause panic. Truthfully, I was walking into rooms trying to remember why I was there in my thirties …
At a certain time we all feel, whatever our sex, that life is geared towards the young. But it should be … they are the future and it’s unlikely that we play any role there.
Since the Bronze Age, and maybe before, we have always looked to the young for help. From resolving labour issues to fighting our wars and even providing us with Joy and hope..
Apparently, low self-esteem has become almost de rigueur for we woman over 55; it goes hand-in hand-with being an invisible woman.
This is a link to a survey from Gransnet which I would love you to read. Eye-opening hardly begins to cover the results which are quite gobsmacking in their details – let me know what you think.
This is a list of the top 5 invisible insults you’ll probably receive as an invisible woman:
□ being ignored while waiting to be served in a bar or pub or coffee shop
□ being pushed past or shoved aside in queues or crowded spaces
□ being ignored in shops
□ being ignored entering a restaurant, garage or any service business
□ BEING IGNORED (You’re an invisible woman, remember?!)
When we’re young, we’re often judged and assessed at a vulnerable age and are less able to deal with unwanted attention. As invisible women I think we reach a stage at which any attention is preferable to being treated as though we’re a hole in the atmosphere. There are days when I can relate to Schrodinger’s Cat and I bet you can too …
If we’re thinking this thing through we will understand that our ‘invisibility’ can lead to freedom to be ourselves. Once you move past the idiocy and embrace becoming an invisible woman, life can be very exciting. Particularly when you inject your language with some irreverence …
This thought helped me to create a list of things to do to overcome the challenge to the psyche; and the first was and still is, I just refuse to be invisible. And so should you!
This is your To Do List:
• Engage people. … chat to everyone!
• Smile: it’s very youthful.
• Stand up tall … also very youthful
• Offer the wisdom of maturity. …
• Always surround yourself with different age groups
• Learn from the young … it’s a different world now
• Recognize that appearance does matter … don’t let yourself or others think otherwise
• Never let others feel invisible …
What do you think? Do you feel less visible as you age? Is low visibility a good or a bad thing in your view?
Find the JOY in aging and being a fabulous woman over 55
