Brooke
Shields
Brooke Shields does not have to take on aging in the modern world, but I am grateful she's doing it. She's been vocal about the treatment of girls and women in the entertainment industry for a while, as well as infertility, and postpartum depression among other topics, and now she's sending a message that life doesn't end after menopause.
Her latest memoir is full of research and relatable stories about her experiences reaching significant age milestones like forty and fifty (and now sixty, she was 59 at the time the book was written) and how people react to her aging. Some of the most infuriating moments to read, for me, as a typical working mother from the Midwest who is getting older by the minute, include people expecting Brooke to lie about her age (why?!?), not valuing her smarts (she went to Princeton, we all know this, right?) and expectations that Brooke not only not age, but not grow or change in any way, shape or form in sixty years. It's ridiculous.
This woman has lived, and I want to hear about it! Like many women, she became a first-time mom in her late thirties and was caring for small children in her forties. As she was nearing fifty, her girls were becoming teenagers and experiencing life and hormonal changes themselves. Now at sixty, she's moving into empty nest territory and focused on her career, maintaining relationships, and figuring out what's next. She's also busy being Brooke Shields. And I love her for it.
It is outrageous that we need to be vigilant about being proactive about what women over fifty have to offer society, what ongoing health and quality of life needs for women must be met, and how truly exceptional women are at managing so much without recognition or credit. By using her no-nonsense approach and voice to elevate this topic, Brooke helps us all, no matter the age.