WHY EUROPEAN WOMEN ARE MORE COMFORTABLE AGING
Achetypes represent all aspects of human nature and are
typically used in literature as a character, an action, or a situation that represents universal patterns of human nature. Carl Jung believed that at the root of
every archetype is the “collective unconscious” of mankind. This “unconsciousness”
may vary from race or culture, but it is shared by the entire culture or race. Today,
it is fair enough to say that there is a very prevalent “collective
unconsciousness” about Age in most cultures.
What are the literary archetypes for Aging Women? According to
Jung, the older woman was known as the “Wise Old Woman”, or the Crone. In the United
States, these two terms negate any femininity or sexuality. The implication of
these are in fact, primarily asexual, and unattractive women that are no longer beautiful.
In European cultures, the Queen would also serve as an archetype of strength and experience. However, the Queen, arguably, has many more connotations of femininity. First, one must assume that she would have once been a princess. She also has earned the right to wear her crown of jewels and robes of the finest fabrics. Not only does she have the right to wear her riches, but she is a powerful State Head to whom people must bow down and show respect.
There is obviously a stark contrast between the Archetype of the Crone and the Queen. This lack of having the Queen as an Archetype can be seen in so many aspects of American culture. Not only are older women not thought of as powerful or commanding respect, but little respect is shown for women who even do carry a title. Most American would probably agree that women, especially in today's political climate, are not respected very much at all.
In European cultures, the Queen would also serve as an archetype of strength and experience. However, the Queen, arguably, has many more connotations of femininity. First, one must assume that she would have once been a princess. She also has earned the right to wear her crown of jewels and robes of the finest fabrics. Not only does she have the right to wear her riches, but she is a powerful State Head to whom people must bow down and show respect.
There is obviously a stark contrast between the Archetype of the Crone and the Queen. This lack of having the Queen as an Archetype can be seen in so many aspects of American culture. Not only are older women not thought of as powerful or commanding respect, but little respect is shown for women who even do carry a title. Most American would probably agree that women, especially in today's political climate, are not respected very much at all.
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| The Queen |
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| The Crone |
Obviously, the United States has never had a queen, and in fact
it is only in the last 40 years or so that women have even held political
office. Our patriarchal society has been slow to even accept women as equal to men,
and certainly, we do not have the “collective unconsciousness" that the British do for their Queen Elizabeth. Hence, we, as a newer democratic nation without a queen, are left without a
female archetype of any real strength or beauty. At best we have the wise grandmother
who bakes cookies and stays home dressed in a "house coat" or dresses that are matronly.
Needless to say, the Baby Boomers are resistant to old Archetypes. The generation that truly “rebelled” against the norms in so many
ways, is now rebelling against the only archetype that is in their “collective unconsciousness”. And so, we have a generation that is confused. We have no women to model or represent the humanity of our culture. In essence, we are in the process of
carving out a new archetype for the aging woman in the United States.
Having a Facebook page, Fashion Over Fifty, of nearly 200,000
viewers, has given me a unique opportunity to see how conflicted and confused
women are today. Some women remain traditional in their role of the Crone who should remain asexual and no longer interested in the youthful and vibrant young woman
that she once was. Other women are in denial of the fact that they are aging
and it is fair to say that a good majority of the population is “youth obsessed”.
Reading women’s responses to a sensual photo of an older woman posted on my page,
one finds opinions ranging from disgust to elation.
Then there is the newer archetype of the older woman who tries to remain young by having plastic surgeries and doing whatever it takes to still look young. There is even a look that these women have adopted as "youthful" with puffy lips and obvious signs of surgeries. This pretty much an impossible and unrealistic standard unless you can afford all that it takes. Analyzing these women, it would seem that because we do not have a positive archetype, they are afraid that once they lose their youthful appearance, they will not longer be attractive. It is not mainstream in our culture that all women are valued for their intrinsic beauty, which of course is our ultimate goal.
There still remains the archetype of the Crone. These women are
horrified of any photograph that may show an older woman in a sexual manner. Of
course we have this because until now, as Jung might say, the Crone is the only
archetype in our “collective unconscious”. Photos that are intentionally posted
to rebel against this “norm” are met with expletives and derogatory remarks. In
fact, women have most probably “unliked” the page due to the fact that it offends their sensibilities. However, if we do not try and "push the envelope, and possible offend some people, we will never see change.
Finally, you have the women who are blazing a trail to where
they do not know. Today, as women who may live 30 to 40 years after menopause, they
must redefine who they are once they can no longer bear children. It wasn’t
that long ago that a common comical phrase “Go granny, go granny, go granny, go.” meant that to see a "granny" do something fun was completely out of the norm. I would like to think that many women today are realizing that age is about
attitude, and that they, unlike the Crone, are not limited in what they can do, or what activities they can or can't do, or in what they may wear.
If only we had the archetype of the Queen, perhaps we would feel more
powerful and proud of our age. Being a princess is not all it is cracked up to
be. She must be subservient to the Queen, and has definite boundaries on her behavior. However, as the Queen, we bear the fruits of our labors and the successes of our kingdoms.The Queen is regal and beautiful, she wears the finest clothing made., and may even have sex with
the King. (If you have seen the movie "The Lion in Winter" you may recall that Katherine Hepburn's role as the Queen. Olld and no longer a princess she is rivaled by a younger more beautiful woman. Despite the lure of this beautiful princess, King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) remains madly and passionately in love with her for all time.)
Facebook has provided a new venue for a sociological study. This
study clearly reveals that European women are more comfortable with aging than
we are here in the United States. European women still see themselves as sexual
beings and are as interested in fashion as any younger woman. In fact, older
women have earned the right to have a designer bag. Who do these princesses
think they are?
Let’s face it, growing older is scary. But, when women refuse to
accept it and deny it, it frightens everyone, even the younger generation. They have no one to look up to as a female “archetype”
who embraces her age. Hence, we cannot create a new Archetype. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could have a meeting and make a pact among all
women to create a new “collective unconsciousness” where we would embrace our
age and just have fun? Let's keep pushing this reinvention of Aging and Beauty in that direction, and everyone will be a lot happier. Come on America, I know you can do it.
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