What would you say is middle aged?

[ssd]

Am curious

I'm 53, I'd say I'm middle aged.

Am I wrong?

Middle age isn't a single year though is it? It's a band of years around the middle of your life expectancy.

So if we take an optimistic life expectancy of 90

0- 30 Young
30-60 Middle aged
60+ Old

It's not really a negative to be middle aged - you're at your peak earning capacity, you're experienced and you're still young enough for health issues not to be a problem for most people. They're your powerhouse years.

I'm 50 and accepting that I am middle aged
I think 45 - 65 is middle aged
65+ older
75+ elderly

Young is under 30 so god knows what 30 - 45 is - just grown up?

And yes, I know most people in their 60s don't consider themselves old, but the majority of people still retire before 70 and you're well past your breeding years - it's not middle aged.

Although I think elderly doesn't apply at 60, it is old. Elderly is what I see as people incapacitated by age related health issues, so not just old.

"The women in my family have generally lived to their 90s and beyond so I'd say middle age is 40 -65!"

They're not living to 130 are they?

"you're at your peak earning capacity"

Only in certain types of jobs. In lower skilled, lower paid jobs you have less earning capacity because you can't work long hours like you might have been able to in your youth. Same if your job is very active, your productiveness will be lower in your 40s than in your 20s.

45-70

Do you feel middle aged?

Is it a feeling? What would the feeling be like?

50 is middle aged but I don't think anyone is old until they're 90.

40 to 55

45

40-60.

" I still wear my student clothes from 20 years ago without looking ridiculous. "

I'm sorry, but I really doubt this. The fashion was quite different 20 years ago.

Categories like that aren’t really relevant though, middle aged should mean middle of your life expectancy generally. I’m halfway to 70 and smoked heavily, so I assume I am midway to death, at least, now.

Just say ‘in their fifties/sixties’, and erase the need for ‘———aged’. Being alive and ageing isn’t shameful, and people clinging to classifications or being outraged at being asked what age they are is weird. They’re embarrassed about being alive?

"Categories like that aren’t really relevant though"

They're pretty useful.

50 (I'm 27, I don't class my mum as middle aged and she's 47)

It is subjective. My mother is 81 and still wears skinny jeans. She doesn't self identity as 'elderly' and I don't identify as middle-aged at 48. In Victorian days, the life expectancy was 38-40 years, but now we are making it to our 80's and 90's as a population then I think perceptions of middle age have changed. I guess class, education and background has a part to play as well. You feel older at a younger age if you have had a tough life. Personally, I think 50+ is middle age nowadays.

Oh Lordy. I'm nearly 60, not long home from work, feel the same inside as 25/30 years ago. Certainly have better self esteem.

Not a grey hair in sight

DC are 21 and 25 and have kept me in touch.

Oh, and my mother who is 84 has a pair of leather trousers and still looks fantastic.

" She doesn't self identity as 'elderly' and I don't identify as middle-aged at 48."

You still are though. At 42, I could self-identify as 20, but I still wouldn't be 20 lol.

I think if average life expectancy is taken into account about 40.

I know some people can't cope with thinking about mortality and want to pretend middle age is 60!

I would say 50 plus is middle aged these days. 70 plus is elderly though people like Judi Dench turn that idea on its head!

• still wear my student clothes from 20 years ago without looking ridiculous. "

I was a student twenty years ago. I dress much better now. Wear what makes you comfortable - I assume you had your own style then and had a timeless look which wasn’t fashion based? I am also impressed you have been able to care for clothing this long😊

You may be in denial, like those ladies who insist their daughters look like their sisters. I recently went back to university and I can safely say I looked older, and dress quite differently, from the kids there. I suppose the difference between you and I is I don’t feel the need to look like them. I am okay being me.

35
I am now old aged according to my dd as I am 52. Old age starts at 50 apparently. Have to admit I do feel old. My mum is 80, that's apparently "super old" although my mum certainly would not agree 😂

Unfortunately our real (not imagined) stage of life isn’t determined by how we feel or dress. I feel no different than I did when I was 30, my face and birth certificate tell a different story.

40 to 60 I'd say, I'm 49 and I got a birthday message on FB from a friend from University I haven't seen for 30 years, it doesn't feel that long since I saw them and it hit me to think in another 30 years I will be almost 80 if I'm lucky.