Are ageism, sexism, and power dynamics present in today’s healthcare system? Ageism may be one of the greatest social barriers to aging well. Does gender play a role in healthcare and long-term care? Is there a gendered pattern over the life course because of the inequities women experience—as both caregivers and recipients of care? We are often perceived, or positioned, as caregivers and, later, as care recipients and there is a low status attached to both roles. Shouldn’t we bring more visibility to these issues if we are committed to gender justice throughout the life course?

I want to explore this whole determination—this reflex—to care for others first and put ourselves last. Is this behaviour natural or unnatural? Is it something innate, or is it a result of conditioning? Shouldn’t this be examined more deeply? Do we actually get to choose? Can we weigh those choices effectively? And if responsibilities were more equally shared across the genders, could aging women make room for her own purpose, her own passion, her own “yes,” while still being in relationship with others—fully giving and fully receiving at the same time? Can both be true?

By constantly upholding youth as the standard for everything good and beautiful in life, aren’t we neglecting to recognize the richness and depth that aging brings? How can we, as women, find ways together to reduce the economic disparities, push back against the restrictive expectations placed on aging, and shift society toward a new narrative—one that holds space for and welcomes the experiences of aging women?

Older women continue to be relevant, carrying with us impressive life experience. But are we internalizing the cultural conditioning around aging? Is it quietly affecting our self-worth and self-value? This internalization can be subtle but powerful.

We need more role models. We need to showcase older women. We need to let go of the stereotypes and expectations about aging. We need to see that ageism is, at its core, discrimination based on age—and that it impacts both the young and the old. It should be a central part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Shouldn’t we discuss it more openly, recognizing it for what it truly is?

I feel strongly that older women often face the added pressure to look younger and more attractive, which normalizes a form of gendered ageism that men experience far less. And yet, so many women begin to truly discover themselves in their late 40s, 50s, and beyond. We begin to see life from a different place. For those who have been caregivers, this may be the time to reconstruct who they want to be. Isn’t this a period for exploration, for curiosity, for stepping into new roles?

However, sometimes the social stereotypes around aging are so deeply ingrained that we don’t even realize how much we’ve internalized them. This unconscious conditioning influences our self-esteem and our sense of possibility. It can make forging a new path forward feel more challenging than it needs to be. Let’s continue to question, unlearn, and create space—for ourselves, for one another, and for all that remains possible as we age.