6 Fiercely Feminist Steps to Aging Gracefully

February 15, 2017 / Alli Kirkham

In a world that seems to value youth and beauty way more than it should, how can you “age well” as a feminist?

Well, the most common advice on aging gracefully tends to include trying your best to keep up a youthful appearance. And the pressure to avoid the natural aging process can get really tiresome.

This comic flips the script – and with tips for things like warding off people who try to dictate what it means to “act your age,” getting older is getting better!

With Love,
The Editors at Everyday Feminism

Click for the Transcript

Title: A Feminist Guide to Aging Gracefully

Panel One

(The cartoonist’s face is smiling at the reader from the corner of a block of text.)

Alli: We live in a world that seems to value youth and beauty more than it should. Youth is simply a function of time and beauty is meaningless and arbitrary.

With that being, said here’s a guide to aging well and staying relevant as a feminist who is leaving the bloom of youth.

Panel Two

(A 40-year-old woman washes her face using a skincare product from a container with a bright blue teardrop logo.)

Text: Step One – Moisturize!

Ageism and sexism can really rub you the wrong way.

Ward off discomfort and chafing by moisturizing daily with the tears of people who want to tell you how to live your best life.

Panel Three

(A 50-year-old woman is putting soap on a brush in her hand; the book “We Should all be Feminists” is next to her sink.)

Text: Step Two – Exfoliate!

Misogyny and ageism can get under your skin, so it’s important to clear away the buildup of bad ideas on a regular basis and replace them with topical care, like the writings of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Panel Four

(A 50-year-old woman holding a file folder is walking past a stand of magazines that have words like “Look young!” and “Stay fresh!” and “Take off 10 years!” on their covers.)

Text: Step Three – Watch your diet!

Society will try to force-feed you its version of “perfect,” so make sure to regularly supplement your intake of self-love.

Woman: I did a great job on this project. I’m so proud of myself!

Panel Five

(A 35-year-old woman is wearing a crop-top and a skirt with a loud pattern.)

Text: Step Four – Dress With Care!

Instead of using fashion to please others, choose shoes that support you and clothes that make you feel like you.

Panel Six

(A 70-year-old woman holds up a sign that says “I can’t believe I’m still protesting this shit!”)

Text: Step Five – Exercise!

Your rights are important and it’s up to you to defend them in these scary times.

Take at least five steps toward defeating fascism every day.

Panel Seven

(A group of middle-aged and older women dressed in flashy clothes. An older woman embraces her partner, a younger woman. An elderly woman balances atop a unicycle.)

Text: Step Six – Act your age!

Folks will try to say you’re too old for some clothes or activities.

Those people are full of shit. You’re never too old to be awesome!

To learn more about this topic, check out:

Alli Kirkham is a Contributing Comic Artist for Everyday Feminism and blogger, cartoonist, and intersectional feminist. Alli earned a BA in English Literature from Cal Poly Pomona in 2011 and uses it as an excuse to blog about books while swearing a lot. When she isn’t cartooning for Everyday Feminism or cursing at popular fiction, she posts cartoons and other silly things on her Tumblr. Check her out on Twitter @allivanlahr.