Everyday Ageism: FEMAIL columnist CHRISTA D’SOUZA discusses embracing your older figure
- Christa D’Souza discussed the older generation apologising for their appearance
- UK-based columnist said ‘why do we have to be so squeamish’ about our look
- The 61-year-old questioned: ‘Why can’t older bodies be, as it were, sexy?’
It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…
On a boating trip with some contemporaries, someone, a man, made a quip about wearing shorts. ‘I don’t like to see them after 11 and I’m not just talking about the time.’
UK-based columnist Christa D’Souza (pictured) discussed why the older generation has to ‘keep apologising for being over reproductive age’
Oh, yes, we all laughed along, but I noticed how suddenly those of us in shorts (only the women, note) instinctively flinched and started apologising about the state of our knees. See, after a certain age, boomers, one’s knees do sort of collapse. As it happens my knees are not that bad for my age (61), but I suddenly found myself also apologising for them being out ‘on show’.
Inevitably, it got me thinking. Why do we have to keep apologising for being over reproductive age? Why do we have to be so squeamish? Why can’t older bodies be, as it were, sexy? And I’m not even talking about people as old as us.
On the latest series of Love Island, Rachel Finni described herself, at the age of 29, as being the ‘grandmother goose’ of the group. I feel I need to make a stand. If any of the producers of Love Island are reading this, what about a one-off show for the over-50s? Our banter would be a hell of a lot sharper and you’d be surprised how some of us aren’t that unfit.