Whoever came up with that hashtag was (wild guess) not a middle-aged woman. How many at our age would consider themselves an "archetype" and not a whole, unique individual packed full of unique life experiences, and unique ambitions yet to fulfil? Far from thinking there is no more need for feminism, as I've been told by women older and younger than me, I must still maintain the rage - as I've done since young adolescence. In any story, switch the genders and see how it sounds, how credible is it. If that jars, there's a spot for feminism! So glad to have you on YT Jane, that and Bealtaine Cottage are weekly highlights.
I loved your peeling back and exploration of this stage in our lives as women. Loved it, you were gentle, patient and so intelligent in your exploration. Love your channel.
Very interesting chat and I'm am really enjoying your videos. The removal of women from the historical narrative goes way beyond art, of course, and the lack of middle aged and older women as role models continues. Largely, I think, because of the terrible online trolling that targets women who do not agree with the "lets do everything (and spend more money) to look younger, prettier, thinner etc" brigade, and who dare to share their opinions about anything. Mary Beard is a good example - an expert in her field of classics, a brilliant educator and presenter but someone who has suffered awful comments and insults about her appearance. Thanks for the books you mentioned - I will definitely be looking those up :)
I think that we all need to counteract it - by supporting writers, broadcasters, artists, everyone who is showing up as themselves. We are in a majority so really there is no excuse for allowing it to happen. Though I believe Trolls themselves should be ignored until they shrivel up due to lack of attention. X
I follow “Danu’s Irish Herb Garden”, another amazing example of the hen wife/mother archetype. I love Kate at the last Homely House as well. The lack of respect and acknowledgment of women our age to our culture , is the real loss of our culture. Wise women, educated women are looked at with suspicion. In our history, burned at the stake if herbalists, eccentrics, etc, and thought of as witches. Love you for not engaging in hag labeling and having great self-respect! You are a wonderful role model of living a rich life
Oh I adored this. So glad you decided upon RU-vid. Utterly inspiring and your usual joyful take on what’s chucked at us. 60 in a few days and thrilled to be alive. Huge thanks Jane ❤❤❤❤❤
This was very interesting Jane. I haven't read Hagitude but I do follow Sharon Blackie on substack. I laughed when you said you'd been a hen wife since you were 25. When I was that age, my friends would joke that I was an old lady "trapped" in a young body, due to loving sewing, knitting, baking etc. Now in my 50s my body is starting to relate to my inner self! Your take on capitalism on women is true I think. I'll definitely read the books you've mentioned. Your podcast is one of my favourites.♡
I feel offended by that word. I think of myself as an elder, maybe something of a witch, certainly a country woman with lots of those interests and skills, and lots of life experience. I maybe wrong, but I feel the word hag, like crone, a derogatory term, a label, instigated by men, afraid of the power and knowledge of older women whose wisdom was necessarily passed on without literacy, and as such seen as anti establishment. Incidentally I am also a well educated woman of 67 years. I will not be labelled by anyone, let alone a PR company! I choose my own identity. I really like your channel. Thanks for the content.
Thank you. I think there have been a lot of women drawn to reclaiming the word to take the sting out of it - but I can think of much better words, like elder as you say (though I personally feel I’m not there yet - so much more to learn).
Another great video and chat .....thsnks Jane. I really enjoyed Sharon Blackies book too and like you identify with Henwife since my 20s!! Your chat was so thoughtful . There are so many positives to this time in life . I think shining from within and doing what you love and being creative .....and hens of course are just a few of the things to celebrate the hag years ❤
Phew! I thought it was just me being a hen wife all these years (and loving it, I'm 70). There are more of us out there. I am looking forward to listening to your book recommendations on Audible. Thank you. Your little vase of flowers are sublime, the perfect touch 😊.
I was excited to see you had a new video up. I missed seeing you. I am going to look up you book recommendations. We need more women on RU-vid like you! BTW, I am also 55 🙂 oh the hen life! love this.
How sad that a movement to empower women in their later years is becoming commercialised. I suspect that I am too a hen wife but have only been able to embrace it now in my early 60s . Thank you for such an insightful commentary.
Another great read is Wife Drought by Annabelle Crabb. A terrific Aussie woman who keeps us on our toes. Has an interesting podcast as well. Love your RU-vid.
Thank you so much for sharing that Jane, my favourite video so far though still going through earlier ones. Very interesting topic and I love reading the comments from other like minded folks 🥰
That was a lovely chat - I shall check out the books you mentioned and although I am 12 years older I don't identify as a hag😅 whilst eschewing high heels and push up bras 😂😂😂 big love from East of Scotland ❤
Interesting approach.....I'd have kicked into the long grass too xxx Pr are missing a great opportunity with the vast swathe of the population who are in their 50s/prime❤
When I started RU-vid now 4 years ago a young woman went on my page and called me an old hag lol. Now I have that word blocked. I had my hair grown out all silver at the time and was only just 51. I took care of my mom who had a horrible dementia called Lewy bodies and then my dad was dying in a nursing home during COVID so yeah, really did not need to read those harsh cruel words. I already felt I was falling apart with grief. But they did this to insult me because on another channel I just thought we all should get along and wrote that on a page when there were riots (Now I know with having a channel to not comment on politically anything.) I spent too much time being upset about it though after seeing this comment and even then colored my hair again. My husband told me that she was just a miserable person to have wrote it because it was far from the truth. I did not have very many subs at the time so nobody supported me against this young women's bully words, I almost ended my channel. I have grown a lot though since then and your views on it are spot on! Oh, and I am growing my hair out silver again, just like my beautiful moms silver white hair.
Oh this is horrible and shocking. I got the advice that when views outnumber subscribers you will get random awful comments and that it’s fine to delete and block. I’m glad you kept going. X
So interesting!! I do follow a few of the channels you mentioned in your video! I think I might like the idea of hen wife... although I'm no longer a wife, which suits me fine. Thank you for your videos and your outlook!
Thank you for another thought provoking chat. Have you been looking at my notifications list on You tube? The only one I haven’t looked at is unexpected gypsy. I also think Kate at Homely house and Georgie at Common Garden flowers are great. The whole thing about reclaiming the word Hag is really interesting but I feel it’s still categorising women in order to put them in a box and is not about valuing women for who or what they are at any age. I wonder if the derogatory definition springs to mind first before any new more positive one for most folk ?
Fantastic book reviews cannot wait to read both, having recently retired I have been branded a Tradwife …. I am going to now say hen wife but I know my 21 year old son will say peck peck peck.
Instagram decided a while ago that I was a tradwife and kept showing me tradwife content. Now it’s decided I’m a witch and shows me a lot of occult. 😂😂😂
Look at the "role models" that prance all over the screens. I like RU-vid as I can pick and mix and stay away from the "role models." I'm not a follower of make up or fashion, never have been. If I had been classified as a hag, the company would have had some questions to answer, although I do enjoy the world of dragons, healers etc. Don't let it get to you, bigger companies are there to make money and they d on't care who they trample on to get the money. Enjoy the people around you. =-) Take care =-)
That whole concept is clearly invented by a marketing man looking for ways to exploit women in their least desirable (to men ) phase of life. I am 60 and glad to be completely invisible because all of the crap we have to deal with as younger women disappears. I find this really insulting and just another example of toxic capitalism and patriarchy personified. We are not hags. We are incredible women with a lifetime of wisdom and experience. I’m so angry on your behalf. Thanks for bringing this phenomenon to my attention.
