How ‘The Golden Bachelor’ is Revitalizing Hollywood’s Portrayal of Aging as Women
When I first heard about ABC’s “Golden Bachelor,” I have to admit I was a little bit skeptical. I wasn’t all that excited to watch a bunch of old people parade around on dates and engage in the requisite drunken fights, relay races and helicopter rides to go make out in a hot tub in the middle of a deserted cornfield. It sounded like it would be one of two things: boring, or ridiculous.
Nevertheless, I settled in on the couch with my friends when they wanted to watch the first episode. I hadn’t watched the bachelor in years, and I figured I would at least give it a chance. Who knew? At least the older cast guaranteed that they would all be there for the “right reasons” instead of as an influencer publicity stunt.
I expected a cast of boring old ladies. Instead, I got 22 vivacious, funny, intelligent and beautiful women. They were athletic, they had hobbies, they had families and careers and goals. They weren’t old — at least, not in the way we’re taught to expect. As women, we’re told that life starts to end at about 40. You grow up, enjoy your youth, get a job, settle down, have kids…and then what? Well, a lot, apparently.
In a society that ties women’s worth to their youth and fertility, the idea of aging past these things feels scary. One contestant, Joan, said it best; “as you get older, you become more invisible.” This is what women are taught to expect. But the truth is, life doesn’t end at 40. If they’re lucky, most people will have 40 more years after that. Years in which to work, to make friends, to travel, to date and to enjoy life.
By accepting society limiting women’s ability to live their lives to the first 40 years of their life, we rob ourselves of decades of joy, love and self-discovery. The women of the Golden Bachelor didn’t look or act like boring old ladies, and they didn’t look ridiculous trying to act like 25-year-olds. They looked and acted their age. They had life experience, perspective and eloquence. They were classy and adventurous and fun, and they looked great in their opening-night dresses; I had just as much fun critiquing them as I always do.
The perspective of older women is rarely focused on. This causes us to miss out on the life experience and wisdom they bring to the table, not to mention some very cool ladies. The Golden Bachelor gives them a platform to be seen not just as wives or mothers, but as complex, unique individuals with their own experiences, personalities, skills and desires.
As the show has progressed, the contestants have continued to prove that life after 50 isn’t something to fear. These women have shown me that there is so much more to look forward to than I thought. As someone who cries on my birthday every year, this show made me realize that aging should be something to celebrate. I don’t want to spend my life fearing getting older — I want to spend it appreciating who I’ve become.
Me and my friends have Golden Bachelor viewing parties. My parents are watching this season. It has record-high ratings and viewership, reviving a previously falling franchise, and recent years have seen Hollywood similarly shifting away from featuring exclusively younger actresses. Older women are finding their voices, stories, and experiences depicted on screens with authenticity and respect.
This representation is important for both older women and younger ones. Seeing role models that are making moves in their careers, romantic lives and personal goals deconstructs the narrative that women lose worth with age, and encourages empowerment and excitement for the future. The Golden Bachelor is not only deconstructing the one-dimensional image that the media has of women over 50, but also empowers women of all ages to love themselves, refuse to settle and go after what they want out of life.