April 17th, 2012 
Diane 
In many ways I feel that what I am about to write would be more suited on my friends blog Aging Abundantly a blog about “INSPIRATION FOR THE WOMAN IN TRANSITION” although this post may not be exactly the most inspirational, only you can decide on that.
Mi-sog-y-ny what a word – what a concept – what a hold it has on me!
I read a post on Christopher Burgess’s blog a few days back titled titled “Misogyny – No place for such in 2012“. what he wrote got me thinking ( something he has a habit of doing by the way) and realized that Mr. Burgess captured the essence of how people think and feel about misogyny and even the comments ( and I read every- single- one of them) make a powerful statement.
If you are a woman, you will come away understanding the powerful influence this hate has over us…how the media has put women into a situation where they are less than what they actually are.
Lets face it ladies, we as women do not see ourselves as good enough, not pretty enough and not smart enough and what a bunch of B.S that is!
So why am I writing this blog post?
Because – it is not JUST the children, the teens or even the adults who face misogyny everyday – it is the older women - the 50+, the 60+ women who need to start understanding that getting older does not mean life is done, that we are not beautiful, that we are not smart and that we have much to offer this world, whether it be politics, business or life itself!
I know that for myself, aging has not always been a kind transition starting with the younger folk who are always saying things “you’re not old” in a patronizing manner or “wow you are old” to the media who tends to show only the flawless and never the flaw of women and damn it they are always so young and so perfect and the list goes on…this constant buzzing in ones mind saying in effect…you are old, you are not beautiful and you are not good enough anymore to be part of the world of the living – hang up your sexy bra and deal with it!
would you believe I tried to find an image of an older woman wearing a sexy bra...and couldn't"
What a sexist statement, but so true isn’t it?
When did this happen? How did it happen?
This is how media usually see women who are older
Did it start in childhood listening to the older women bemoan their age,seeing how they looked and dressed and acted and we all went..I never want to get old!
Did it happen with the media always showing that for women, beauty and youth = success which = money and aging (women) stars just fade away…where did they go?
Did it happen when families said to their children, it doesn’t matter if you are beautiful, you are smart and when you get older you will be thankful that you had an education and you said…but I want to be beautiful and I never want to get “old”
…and did it happen when as kids we wanted to be popular, to be liked so that meant money being poured into clothes and makeup to be accepted, to be beautiful ( to hell with brains) and we need to do this now, because when you get “old” you may as well be dead?
It is o.k to be an older man..they look so distinguished the older they get, they have the wisdom of age to back them up…but for women …no such luck…we are just getting older and who really cares?
Bull shit!
Misogyny —It’s all too real and we need to start talking about it ladies – we need to start doing something about it – any ideas?
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Excellent piece Diane. Thanks for calling out my piece.
All the best,
Christopher
I need to thank you for making me think and realize that misogyny is indeed an equal opportunity issue with the only criteria that you be a female.
The fact is this post would never have been written if I had not read your post ( and yay to bookmarking so I would not lose it…lol).
We really need to start talking more and coming up with ways and means to combat this issue that affects a whole gender!
Thank you so much for coming to my humble blog, it is very appreciated!
Thanks for introducing me to a new word, Diane. I’d never heard of misogyny before, although I certainly understand the concept.
Yes, it’s unfortunate that women have to put so much more effort into maintaining that youthful or least, well-maintained look.
Men tend to just let themselves go. It sure costs them less to get old! We women (or at least the women in my world) spend way more on ourselves as we age just to keep ourselves from looking like we don’t care.
I wish EVERYONE would put in an effort to comb their hair, keep their clothes, teeth, and bodies clean and well-maintained and look like they care. That doesn’t mean hiding what we’ve got. It just means looking like we care.
Thanks Doreen for coming in and giving your thoughts on this matter and I am glad to have taught you a new word, although it is a word that for many women they wish they had never heard!
All too often women think in terms of beauty which should never be confused with hygiene and the basics of taking care of oneself ( and ya another pet peeve of mine -_^).
There are women who are smart, brilliant when I think about it who are never given the credibility because or their looks or their age and I find that deplorable.
You would think in this day and age, that true equality would exist, but the reality is that equality is only as good as the make up you wear or the plastic surgery that you can afford and then …even then if you look “too good” you will be slammed down.
Great post Diane! And so very true. It’s the perfect topic for Equal Pay Day! Misogyny may not be PC in the 21st century but it’s alive and well as the stats reveal in numerous articles regarding women and pay. We’ve come a long way but we have mountains yet to climb.
Thanks Dorothy and I appreciate your voice and thoughts as always.
Misogyny results from the hegemony present in society. White males still hold the most power in our society, so it’s no surprise they get their viagra paid for while women are lucky if they can gain access to insured birth control. The infinite ways that females are led to feel shame over their gender has not waned in the 21st century. A lot of this could be alleviated by teaching media literacy in public schools, but that won’t happen anytime soon because students are too busy filling in the bubble… and that test bubble is part of a social construct largely put in place by men as well. GRRRRRR.
The word “misogyny” is new to me. Thanks for the post. Women in the media are looking young and beautiful. Then there are women like Betty White, who celebrate getting old.
Remember, at one time women were not allowed to go out and work or vote. It changed. Because, many women worked to make all those things happen. I think, it is a new responsibility for women to change the attitude about aging.
Are we willing to walk with the grey hair? Are we going to ditch the products to keep the skin looking young?
You are correct in your thoughts, at one time Women could do nothing, but I had honestly thought that had changed. When wrote his piece about Misogny( a word I am familiar with), it really did get me thinking. Can you imagine having an illness that makes you look “puffy” and no one wants to talk to you? It does not matter that you are smart and young and beautiful, but looking different? Because I have a habit of thinking beyond the obvious, I realized that many women who are older are treated in the same manner and that is just wrong.
Betty White is one of the exceptions to the rule, that lady is a powerhouse of vitality, and determination!
I’m glad that I am introducing so many people to a new word…lol
Thank you for visiting my blog and I intend to be putting up a lot of different content to get one thinking and hopefully entertain as well.
This is such an interesting subject. My husband is a marketing guru and in order to prove this very point that you are making, a few years back he did a presentation at a big marketing expo and put together a reel showing just clips from commercials showing how older people are presented. Overwhelmingly, they were shown in humor situations where people were making fun of them.
Then he took three popular magazines from that month and scanned ads showing men and women over 50. The men were all pictured as silver-haired businessmen and the women were either selling Depends or they were absolutely invisible. There was a place in advertising society for senior men selling insurance and investments and even cereal, but once women moved past the “mother” stage they disappeared from the advertising world entirely.
It was a very powerful presentation. I’d like to tell you that everyone attending saw the light and changed their ways. I’d like to tell you that…. but I can’t. Bummer!
Kay in Hawaii
Fascinating Kay! I wish everyone could see the presentation! Does he still have it? It would go viral now!
We are very agreed Dorothy… very very agreed
I have to agree with Dorothy, I would love to see that presentation..it would indeed go viral ( in a good way). I am a bit of a people watcher when not online and I have observed how women are treated and when they get older, something seems to change, at first it is a subtle change, but then it goes downhill from there.
Your husband did something that needs to be applauded but I wonder how many women also saw the “light”? what I am observing is how women themselves treat older women and putting them in “retirement” homes as though they were not needed, not beautiful, nor smart.
I guess it is up to us Gals to stand up and show the world that we are of value, we have a lot to give and sheesh we are sexual vibrant women… so there! lol
Thanks Kay for sharing..between you and Dorothy, you made my day!
AMEN!!