Across cultures and over centuries, folkloric tales have told us to fear the maturing or older woman for she is often portrayed as magical, mystical, monstrous, or deadly. There is lore that speaks of her power, knowledge, and magic, and she is often the face of evil, mystery or represents imminent danger. These women become even more evil when they are enforcing their boundaries.
This lore, passed down through the ages, paints her as a one-dimensional archetype, but what of her humanity, her relationships, her role In her community, and her own healing? How do these stories color the way we see older women and women-identified people in our culture as they age? Who tells your story Is Important. How we get to reclaim our voice and story is critical to our healing.
What if the lore of the aged women was reimagined In her own voice? What would we come to know about her journey—her personhood?
What If?
Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause