Why I’m raising a glass to older women

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Chine McDonald pays tribute to the wisdom of older women

This International Women’s Day (8 March), I’m raising a glass to the wisdom of older women. In a world in which billionaires are expending their efforts on the quest to stay eternally young, it was a joy to watch Joni Mitchell at last month’s Grammys. The 80-year-old singer-songwriter performed ‘Both sides now’ with all the wisdom and grit of a woman who has spent 60 years honing her craft, overcoming hurdles such as a brain aneurysm in 2015. 

Some weeks before, I marvelled at the sheer athletic ability of Angela Rippon, as the 79-year-old gave some of the younger competitors on Strictly Come Dancing a run for their money. 

Our societal obsession with youth is such that seeing older women in the limelight is noticeable. We’re not used to grey hair and wrinkles; we give a double-take to laughter lines and crow’s feet. When I was growing up, it felt like women disappeared when they reached the age of 50, forced to step aside for younger models.