‘I’m an aunty and proud,’ says Zeenat Aman; how women face sexism and ageism as they grow older, often encountering dismissive terms

Sharing a representation of herself, she wrote successful the caption, “Which genius decided that ‘aunty’ is simply a derogatory term? It surely wasn’t me.

“Where would we beryllium without those ubiquitous older women who marque our lives comfy and lukewarm and secure? The Indian aunty is everywhere, and she doesn’t adjacent person to beryllium related to you. She provides a enarthrosis to thin on, an receptor to your problems, a blistery meal, a silly joke, a welcoming home, a righteous scolding, a pearl of wisdom.”

She added, “Me? I’m an aunty and proud. It’s a tag I’ll happily deterioration connected my sleeve, oregon successful this case, crossed my chest.”

Her effect resonates with galore women who, arsenic they age, look not lone the pressures of maintaining youthful appearances but besides the judgement that comes with these derogatory labels. 

Why bash presumption similar ‘aunty’ transportation antagonistic connotations erstwhile utilized to picture women?

Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, says, “This comes from a preconceived conception which is prejudice and stigma attached to the word ‘aunty.’ In a patriarchal society, women are valued for their youth, reproductive imaginable and beauty. Ageing makes them determination distant from these qualities and the labels often marque them suffer their worthiness.”

This is thing which is generational, she adds, meaning that successful earlier times the men would hunt and support the household and the women of the houses would cook, look aft the children and the house. “If a pistillate was incapable to bash the societal duties she was considered inferior and her individuality was stripped distant from her.”

Intersection of sexism and ageism, and their interaction connected the intelligence wellness and self-esteem of women

Khangarot informs, “Youth and appearance are often linked to occurrence for women and galore consciousness pressured to conform to unrealistic quality standards. This takes a toll connected intelligence health, starring to self-esteem issues, debased mood, and anxiety. It tin besides origin assemblage representation problems, making women uncertainty themselves.” 

For women similar Zeenat Aman, perpetually successful the nationalist oculus and taxable to scrutiny astir their quality and choices, this unit tin pb to internalising societal biases and questioning whether they acceptable the industry’s constrictive ideals of quality and success.

When individuals halt confining themselves to rigid notions astir sex oregon self-worth, and displacement from seeking outer validation to embracing interior worth (Source: Freepik)

How to combat and reclaim specified derogatory presumption successful a mode that challenges societal stereotypes

According to Khangarot, embracing oneself for who they are, and drafting wisdom, resilience, and beingness lessons from ageing, tin empower women to interruption done societal barriers and animate others to basal up for themselves, particularly erstwhile they consciousness ageing is diminishing their power.

“When individuals halt confining themselves to rigid notions astir sex oregon self-worth, and displacement from seeking outer validation to embracing interior value, they whitethorn observe deeper insights and a stronger consciousness of identity,” she states. 

How tin communities and workplaces germinate to beryllium much inclusive and respectful of ageing women?

Communities and workplaces are evolving arsenic we speak, reflects Khangarot. “Though the changes mightiness look tiny now, they tin turn exponentially if we travel together.” 

“If we normalise ageing and dainty it arsenic the earthy biologic process that it is, women tin reclaim their powerfulness and displacement societal narratives, ensuring that older women feel respected and valued. After all, you are much than conscionable a number, and it’s clip we commencement celebrating that truth,” she concludes.