tackling ageism takes a whole world

A new nationwide campaign from Age Without Limits, supporting the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, is asking us all to rise to the challenge and test our beliefs and attitudes.

Start by taking a short quiz on the UK campaign website www.agewithoutlimits.org

And if you find room for improvement why not take a look at some of their resources, or the toolkit available from the World Health Organisation for the global campaign.

Look out for links to these resources and others that can help everyone in rising to the challenge of gendered inequality and ageism here on our website.

25/01/2024ageism,mission,in briefinequality,over 50s

elderly label shouldn’t be a negative

An organisation for lawyers who specialise in supporting older people have changed their name as part of a re-brand.  Deciding that 'Solicitors for the Elderly' was outdated, they are now the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, according to a news article in the legal weekly Solicitors Journal.

The organisation's chief executive was quoted as saying: "We needed to think about our name and the way we describe ourselves so the people who need our members most, know we’re here."

So even though the website says the organisation's members serve 'older people', they think it will be better understood if members call themselves 'lifetime lawyers' rather than 'solicitors for the elderly'...?1? 

It feels suspiciously like the word 'elderly' was the problem, reflecting the negative connotations of later-life, and how people often shy away from associating themselves with such labels.   

If you happily would call someone a 'young woman' but would hesitate to identify yourself or someone else as an 'older woman' then you know how this works.

Using different language isn't the solution - we need to change attitudes to tackle ageism, not our vocabulary.

24/01/2024finances,ageismin brief,elderly,discrimination,changing attitudes

if you love recycling but struggle with sorting

Just a throwaway thought... (ha ha...) for those who struggle to know what should or shouldn't go in the recycling bin.  If you are keen to be a good, environmentally-aware citizen then try recyclenow.com which tells you exactly what and where you can recycle in your local area.  Definitely something to make doing the right thing that bit easier...

14/10/2023in briefenvironment,recycling,social conscience

a revealing role for Rose

Stripping naked and walking across the vast stage of the Royal Opera House has won acclaim for model, artist and writer Rose Knox-Peebles after she was cast in a staging of Wagner's opera Das Rheingold.

Knox-Peebles portrays Erda, an Earth goddess, and is on stage for much of the production, sometimes given a voice from offstage by singer Wiebke Lehmkuhl. 

It's a challenge that few of us would be prepared to undertake, and Knox-Peebles has won plaudits for her extraordinary performance.  The lesson of being comfortable in one's skin can take time, and at 81 she has had time, demonstrating a confidence we can all learn from.

And if the "extraordinary performance" described in the Times may hinge upon Rose's age and her willingness to expose herself to scrutiny in this way, Knox-Peebles provides a masterclass in tackling taboos while embracing freedom of expression.

24/09/2023ageism,in brief,rose knox-peeblesnakedness

110 years and suffragette battle goes on

June 2023 marks the 110th anniversary of the death of suffragette Emily Davison, who was fatally injured in one of her many protests in support of the suffrage movement, which helped to bring about the right to vote for women in the UK.

She made history by throwing herself in front of the King's horse during the 1913 Epsom Derby, dying from her injuries four days later.

As a young woman, she attended Royal Holloway College, now part of the University of London, also attending  St. Hugh’s Hall, Oxford, where she took first class honours in English, although Oxford at that time did not award degrees to women.

The Representation of the People Act of 1918 granted the vote to women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification.  The same Act gave the vote to all men over the age of 21. It was not until the Equal Franchise Act of 1928 that women finally achieved the same voting rights as men.

Looking back over the past century, much progress has been made, yet the road towards equality still seems to lengthen, extending out even as we look back over our shoulder.  We owe a debt to the suffragettes, not least of which is to continue to fight the cause.

Read more about Emily Davison on Encyclopaedia Brittanica and the 1918 Act of Parliament here

09/06/2023in briefgender equality,suffragette

cancer care start up wins funding

A wholly women-led healthcare start-up has secured £3.4m in funding to develop its cancer care firm.

Perci Health is an online platform offering practical guidance and psychological support for cancer patients.  The line-up includes Kelly McCabe, an oncology dietician and former COO of cancer services for HCA International and Morgan Fitzsimons, former marketing director of ASOS.  Joining them on the board is Chantal Cox of Octopus Ventures, who led the funding round at the VC firm.

04/06/2023venture capital,in briefentrepreneurs

drawing on a wealth of life experience

Authors nominated for this year's Women’s Prize for Fiction award have one thing in common: they are all middle-aged.  The youngest author on the shortlist is Priscilla Morris, at just 49, with Barbara Kingsolver the oldest, at 68.

And while both Kingsolver and nominee Maggie O'Farrell are previous winners of the major fiction prize, others are new to novel writing. Jacqueline Crooks and Louise Kennedy arrived at the writer's desk with a full life's worth of experience after pursuing diverse careers.

Read more about this year's authors and their nominated work here. 

10/05/2023in brieffiction,authors

you go girl….

Women runners taking part in the London marathon showed they were up to the challenge, whatever their age.

In this year’s race, just over 5,000 women runners were aged over 50, a higher number than those under 40, demonstrating that age is no barrier to endurance.  The highest number of women competitors were in their 40s, closely followed by the 30-somethings.  Full stats here.

The women’s record for the London marathon was set by British runner Paula Radcliffe in 2003, when she crossed the finish line in just 2h 15m 25s: a record that still stands.

25/04/2023in briefrunning,endurance