“Ladies of a certain age” have always played an important
role in our society, as healers, teachers and culture-bearers. But
generational and gender stereotypes often meant that
older women’s wisdom and wit were overlooked. Many
women have defied this attitude. Martha
Graham was choreographing dance and Georgia O’Keeffe creating
dazzling paintings into their nineties. Blues singer Alberta Hunter re-established
her musical career at age 81.
Now there is an entire book about women’s experience aging
and feeling good about it. “Still
Going Strong: Memoirs, Stories and Poems About Great
Older Women” is an anthology that offers the insights
and creative expression of some forty women (and a couple
of men). The book was edited by Janet
Amalia Weinberg, who contributed two stories of
her own. Dr. Weinberg is a psychologist living in Ithaca
and founding member of one of the first feminist therapy
collectives.
“Still Going Strong” is divided into three sections: strengths,
challenges and joys. Sometimes the strengths are a
surprise, as with Sonja Johansen’s experience as a Peace
Corps volunteer in Nepal and her reaction on returning
home, “I still don’t understand rebirth and reincarnation
but I like the Buddhist emphasis on happiness rather
than guilt.” The joys in aging are also especially
gratifying, as poet Christine Swanberg writes, “Mostly
I love/ the elegant simplicity/ this time can bring
if you/ remove the clutter.”
There is a new appreciation of the worth of older women
and men to our society – especially since so many are
living longer lives. In an OFF THE PAGE program in
December, 2004 geriatrician Dr. William Thomas, author
of “What
Are Old People For?”, indicated the difference between
adulthood and elderhood and decried the “medicalization” of
old age. “Still Going Strong” asserts that aging does
not mean wearing out. Amalia Weinberg writes of herself
and co-editor Margaret Karmazin,
Personally, Margaret and I have bumped into moments
of simply “being” – a state we longed for but rarely
experienced when we were young. Back then we were too
busy trying to get somewhere and become something to
enjoy or even tolerate such stillness.
Amalia Weinberg joins Bill
Jaker to share the stories, poems, memoirs and
ideas in “Still Going Strong” and listeners of any
age and gender are welcome to take part. To join
in the discussion call during the live 1:00 PM broadcast
to 1-888/359-9754 or post a comment HERE or directly
to WSKG.Radio@Gmail.com.
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