Featured image: For many postmenopausal women, it’s a time to get out into the world | Photo: by Iakobchuk via Envato

Changing the narrative starts with us

by Kathy Buckworth

What’s that I heard? That the whole purpose of postmenopausal women is to raise their grandchildren?

Sorry, but I couldn’t quite hear it over the airport announcement that my flight to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was about to take off. Or maybe it was just the sound of rage in my head. (Probably both.)

The movement of Postmenopausal Women for Harris in the U.S. is resonating with Canadian Postmenopausal women as we recognize that this is a universal calling out to all women. Single, cat-owning, childless, young, old…and now they’re coming for the grandmas?

What’s your purpose?

I’m postmenopausal. I’m a grandma. I love my grandchildren. I have three of them, and they’re all wonderful little human beings. I try to have a part in their development, providing them with a good role model (I swear I don’t swear around them, on purpose), sharing values and giving them happy memories. But the raising of them? Certainly, some grandparents are involved in that capacity (Newsflash! Grandads could do this also!), but for me, the child-rearing is for their mom, my daughter, just as I raised my own four kids. With my husband. And the help of daycares, nannies, friends and after-school programs.

Do I now then not have a purpose?

Sigh.

I’ve written about how women 50+ can feel invisible while travelling and visiting restaurants and hotels on their own. That resonated. I’ve written about how menopausal women have to take charge of their own minds and bodies, even if that means packing a personal massager. That sent some vibrations.

But this subject is more serious than that. It goes to our entire reason for being on this planet. This narrative is wrong, and it’s damaging. It’s time for us to stand up and be counted. At the polls, if you can, and in our self-defined purpose.

Changing stereotypes

One of the great things that comes with being postmenopausal (besides not having periods and saying goodbye to hot flashes and other delightful menopause symptoms), is that we have a good sense of what our own personal purpose is.

And for many of us, it’s getting out into the world, whether it’s down the street or across the globe; gathering and sharing wisdom with our peers, and with younger people who aren’t even related to us.

What is my travel purpose?

• To understand the challenges of the places I’m travelling to be that environmental, economic, socio-economic, or political, and to choose places that fit my own goals and values.
• To shine a light on destinations and experiences that will help solo women 50+ travel more safely and confidently.
• To shed the stereotypes of women travelling solo. It’s our choice, not our challenge.

I’ll tell you one thing, I’m happy to get up off the couch and travel the world. Especially if it’s the same couch JD Vance was just sitting on.

Editor’s note: The freedom we feel as women and travellers depends on having democratic and open political systems, processes and leaders. Unless all women feel free, none of us are, so expect more on this topic in 2024 and beyond. It’s up to us to use our voices to change outdated stereotypes.   

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