EP 82 How Older Women Can Reclaim Power, Purpose & Visibility

What happens when women refuse to fade quietly with age?

In this powerful episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I sit down with renowned feminist scholar and cultural critic Susan J. Douglas, author of In Our Prime - How Older Women Are Reinventing the Road Ahead, to explore the intersection of sexism and ageism — and why older women are uniquely positioned to reshape the road ahead.

Susan shares what fueled her decades-long focus on sexism in media and culture, and why she believes gendered ageism is one of the most urgent — and overlooked — issues facing women today. Together, we unpack how society pressures women to become invisible as they age, why intergenerational solidarity matters, and how reclaiming visibility is both a personal and political act.

This conversation is a rallying cry for women 65+ who are seeking fulfillment, purpose, and success on their own terms — and a reminder that aging can be a time of expansion, activism, and becoming.

✨ If you’re ready to age out loud, challenge limiting narratives, and step fully into your prime, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why sexism alone doesn’t explain women’s experiences of aging
• What gendered ageism looks like in media, marketing, and culture
• The importance of intergenerational feminism and bridge-building
• Reclaiming visibility, purpose, and agency after 65
• Why older women matter — now more than ever

This episode is an invitation to women 65+ — and to anyone who believes aging is about becoming, not declining — to step fully into their prime.

To learn more about Susan, her current book In Our Prime, and her other extraordinary achievements and books, and her current role as the Catherine Neafie Kellogg Professor of Communication Studies at The University of Michigan - please visit her website here.

If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here.

Looking for a few simple ways to age well? Here are two products I use and genuinely recommend:

🚶‍♀️ Favorite Walking Pad – I use it almost every day while watching my favorite shows. It's quiet, easy to store, and makes getting more steps simple and enjoyable.

🥤 Favorite Protein Powder – Getting enough protein becomes even more important as we age. This is my go-to because it's easy to digest, delivers 25g of protein per serving, and supports healthy muscles and bones.

Waving from Boston – cheers!

Ande ♥

CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/ 
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