Headline that was offensive on so many levels

Awee departure this week from my usual mild-mannered musings. This is due to the fact that I AM HOPPING MAD. When I reveal why, no doubt there will be some who will put my displeasure down to “an age thing” or “hormones”. Do so at your peril. What set me off was a newspaper headline at the weekend: “Shades of grey appear in the Fringe as older women grab the limelight”. The gist of this piece was that this year’s Edinburgh Fringe features some “older” women.

Some of them even attempting to be funny. Bless. The byline was a male. I’ve no idea what colour his hair is.

It is offensive on so many levels, I hardly know where to start… But here goes. How is it newsworthy in 2018 that women not in their twenties are able to perform in front of an audience?

If it were any other section of society being highlighted in this manner, there would be an outcry.

Sexism, ageism, etc don’t seem to be frowned upon when it comes to women of a certain age. Those of us who fit this hideously misrepresented demographic have become used to the “jokes” about hot flushes and becoming invisible after being alive for more than half a century.

But why? These days, most of us can hope to have decades of work, fun and the capacity for learning ahead of us, in a way our grandmothers perhaps did not. When is the rest of the population going to notice this and lay off the condescending remarks?

As for the “shades of grey” element to the article, one of the women mentioned was pictured with her trademark blonde hair clearly visible.

As a catch-all description of women of a certain age, this does not take into account the choice and, in many cases, the spending power, to choose to colour their grey hair. If they wish.

I doubt a description of all men over the age of 50 as bald would pass unnoticed.

Thank you for indulging my rant.

I’m off to do some knitting before hobbling to the shops and chatting about the state of young people today while a queue forms behind me in the post office.

The byline was a male. I’ve no idea what colour his hair is.