To think of myself as a girl at 50? [Light-hearted]

[ThisFluentBiscuit]

Well, I'm sorry, but I do. I don't think I've aged much at all - I don't look much different from when I was 28 I think, (🤭) and I looked girlish then. I'd rather be a girl, which has connotations of freedom and fun, than a woman, which has connotations of too much responsibility!

I think being called a girl is a big compliment. It means you look young. It's equivalent in the States to being called Miss instead of Ma'am. The dreaded ma'am!!!

This thread has been inspired by another thread where the OP says he's confused by a girl at work, who is 41. Some posters objected to any female over the age of 18 being called a girl.

Well, I'll still be identifying as a girl when I'm 80, probably!

Older celebrity women around my age who I think of as girls:
Kate Moss
Jennifer Aniston
Victoria Beckham

In my mind, the above and me are all still 28 but could pass for much younger. 😂😂😂

It's a good day when I'm referred to as a girl. 🤪 Also - and this is the most important part - even though my parents are dead and I'm post-menopausal, I FEEL like a girl!

So, AIBU??

It's not about looks. It's about a state of mind.

I don’t know why, but this gives me the creeps. It’s maybe the Miss Havisham vibes.
Also, it’s interesting OP that you see something being “so ageing” as an insult. I feel a bit sorry for you. Embrace womanhood, it’s great.

It's not about what I actually look like though. I think I look 28 and that's all that counts!

There are lots of people who are over-confident and think they're miles better than they actually are in some way. Why shouldn't I be one of them? 🤣

Awww, thank you for the sympathy!!

I am creepy. I have over 100 creepy dolls. Mwah-hah-haaaah!

What on earth is your issue with getting older? It's a fucking privilege to age, especially to reach old age. The negative people aren't the ones rejecting the title of their youth, it's you shitting on being middle aged! It is entirely possible, in fact it's incredibly easy, to enjoy this stage of life without having to infantalise yourself.
You don't feel or look 28, 50 just doesn't feel or look like you think it was going to feel.

That's a very negative reading of me. I don't mind being 50 and am super-grateful to be alive, I just feel and look 28! (My mirror may be distorted but I love it! 🤣)

I think it's a quite accurate reading from everything you've written here. You're 50. Why not own that and embrace it. It's embarassing trying to cling on to your 20s as a middle aged women, instead of enjoying all that being older has added to your life.
I enjoyed my 20s when I was there, enjoyed my 30s more and am currently enjoying my 40s the most. I think I look decent enough for my age but am not trying to kid myself I look 32 years younger, nor would I want to. We've been there and done that, decades ago. Why not try enjoying the now.

There is truth in what you say @PinkArt. But I think we were expecting something different because, when we were girls, most older women seemed to dress differently to younger women. Probably partly because they were a generation that hadn't invented the teenager and went straight from schoolgirl to adult at about 16.

I'm 57, but when I was young, in the 70s and 80s, there were a lot of older women who were wearing shift frocks with maybe a floral pattern, sensible pastel cardy, sensible shoes and cauliflower perm hair which often wasn't dyed because that made you "fast" in that generation.

My primary school headmistress favoured pale coloured skirt suits, and matching sort sleeved knitted top. And twin sets. Lots of duck egg blue and oyster. I thought of her as to be respected, but incredibly ancient. But she was probably 5 years younger than me now! She definitely wasn't a girl! I, on the other hand, dress as a perpetual student in jeans and t shirt. I wouldn't say I was a girl though. Or only occasionally. 😀

I DO enjoy the now and I refuse to grow up and grow old, so there!

Absolutely this, Im surprised so many dont understand that 'girl' isnt a negative, silly, fluffy thing (well maybe the chin hair in my case), so theres no 'embarrassment' about being a 'girl'.

People really do need to think about the negatively they're bringing into those stereotypes, very strange.

I’m in my late 60s but I don’t feel any different inside to how I felt when I was 15. I still like the same music, the same food, still have the same sense of humour, and still have the same views on life and politics. If you want to refer to yourself as a girl, good on you. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. I would be quite flattered if anyone called me a girl, or young lady.

Very strange indeed.

You do you, OP. I'm a good bit older than you and I'm still a girl. Our PT calls me and my nearing retirement age gym friend, Girlies 😂. We think this is hilarious.

I dont mind girl or woman. People often act surprised I'm 45 and say I could pass for 30. I don't feel old but I do feel more mature than when I was in my 30's and I'm really enjoying my 40's actually! I won't mind turning 50 either. Weirdly-I hated turning 30 but that's the only time I've struggled with ageing. My wife is 53 and looks younger too. It's a good time of life for us, we got married last year. I went to college at 29 with teenagers and my best friend was 17 😂 we are still in touch now! I'm now doing my degree with the OU. I have girls age 21, 10 and 8. My 21yo loves hanging out with me and has suggested clubbing! I'm not sure..however my wife and I went to pink (lesbian club) in London last year and it was fun! The younger crowd were very accepting and we danced with a group of much younger girls for a while!

I think I'm with you OP...never get old and boring! Age is only a number!

Love it!

Am loving this post! I might try Pink. Was it all women, or were men there too?

OP, you're not "a girl" (and neither am I).
You are a woman - why would you want to be anything else? Don't demean yourself, and the rest of your sex, by trying to be "girly", please.

All women! Sorry it wasn't called pink, I was thinking of an old club from years ago, it was Shebar!

I'm still in touch with 9 schoolfriends and when we meet up the years roll away and we're back to being giggly 16 year olds!
We've all passed the halfway mark of our 60s but none of us feel it!
Growing older is a privilege and sadly we lost one of our original 10 two years ago so it makes us enjoy our meet ups all the more.
We don't look into the mirror much because we are all 16 at heart!
I usually refer to the group as the school guys!

I never said I was girly!

But why is being girly demeaning, anyway?? I bet no one would ever say that the phrase "boyish charm" demeans men!

'Girl' just sounds silly to me if you're older than 25 or so. What's wrong with 'woman'? Would you refer to a man of 30 or 40 as a boy? How would you feel about a man over 30 calling himself a boy? I'd assume he was a bit immature and lacking in confidence. Same for women.

I am immature and lacking in confidence. So be it. Let it all hang out!

I'll add those two to the insult list from this post! 🤣

Negativity is v. ageing.

I'm in my 60s and quite sure I look like Grendel's granny ATM. There's nothing wrong with having a youthful spirit, referring to a group of female friends as "the girls" and similar.

The problem is that it can be used to patronise and undermine. A 90+ year old referring to me as a girl, no problem, I may be to them. However, the younger colleague I barely knew who called me a "good girl" was shown their backside.

Someone called you good girl at work? Oh hell, no. Even I have my limits. I hope you responded by telling them to go and do their homework. 🤬