I’ve recently learned that we first-wave boomers have a new moniker; the powers that be have dubbed us “Alpha Boomers.” Since that turns millions of my worthy sisters and me into “alpha females,” I’m rather likin’ that one!
Nevertheless, the truth for us gals growing up in the fifties was far from alpha. Whether it was overtly proclaimed or covertly assumed, boys were hands down the preferred sex. Without question, it was the male of the species who would grow up to rule the business world, the halls of government, and most certainly the four-walls of home—this was, after all, their castle.
But we boomer girls were a cheeky lot and had already commenced with our revolutionary ways. In fact, we wanted to rule our own fair share of the castle and would settle for nothing less! So, without the slightest nod to pomp and circumstance, we instigated power plays aimed at dethroning the sitting monarchs. And, being even more presumptuous, we set our sites on grabbing power in the realms of both business and government, too.
Whether we participated or not, none of us will forget the battles waged. For some, the great gender wars left room for little else. For others, they were hardly a blip on our personal radar screens as we went about keeping house and home à la the likes of June Cleaver. Whatever the choice, the end result was that many of us deferred going after our own life’s goals. We were simply engaged in other matters.
Now, however, age has gifted the majority of us with a certain amount of both time and resources. Many of the immediate needs of family care or the energies required to bump against glass ceilings in a decidedly sexist society have lessoned and opened up opportunities to pursue that which we choose. So, although we may be late bloomers, we still have plenty of time to live out our dreams.
Therefore, I urge you to take some time to consider and decide upon the activities that feed your soul. What gives you energy? Performing which skills is deeply satisfying for you? Which actions find you experiencing a sense of flow? The more you can connect with these internal rewards, the more you’ll thrive at this very special time of life.
Yes, we may be getting older but we boomer gals haven’t lost our revolutionary spirit. Far from it. If we choose to, we can become even more spunky and bodacious with age.
After all, rather than wilting, flower power is at its most magnificent when it blooms later in life!
Mary W. Walters says
Great post! Couldn’t agree more.
The problem a lot of us run into is that where, when we were younger, it was accepted that men would be the ones who did it all, now we run into attitudes that discourage us because they say we are too old: that accomplishments are only for the young.
Obviously, we’re NOT too old to fulfil our passions until we decide we are, but we need to stick together — to stay in touch with one another — to avoid being discouraged by the naysayers. Some of whom might even be in our own families or circles of friends. 😉
Keep up the positive messages.
Just One Boomer (Suzanne) says
The early Baby Boomer women paved the way for those of us born in the mid-1950’s. Hillary Clinton and her peers were at the tip of the spear and they were often reviled and had to be better than the men to be recognized. It was much less of a big deal for me to attend law school (1977-80)although you could tell they weren’t expecting as many women when they built the law school building 5 years previously. The main ladies room still had urinals!