My open letter to every man over 60

Dear men over the age of 60 throughout Australia and the rest of the world, I am writing this to you with anger in my head and my heart. Last week I went on a blind date. It was the first time I had seen someone since my husband died seven years ago.

I’m a 62-year-old woman and a younger friend had set me up with a 63-year-old man. I went into the date feeling confident, albeit a little wary of what was going to unfold, but I hadn’t come close to anticipating what happened.

I was told straight out that he would never date me seriously. When I asked why, thinking it was some kind of joke, he looked at me straight in the eye and said, older women aren’t sexy.

I stood up and walked straight out.

Why do older men believe that women of the same age aren’t worthy of them? Why do they believe that women in their 60s aren’t sexy? And more importantly, why haven’t they ever looked in a mirror?

Once I read an article about a 60-year-old American Apparel underwear model, Jacky O’Shaughnessy. The beauty was found in New York and handed a modelling contract last year – the same year that her partner turned to her, told her she looks too old and said he’s embarrassed to be seen in public with her.

What is so wrong with women over 60?

We have wrinkles, so do you.

We have grey hair, so do you.

We have baggage, so do you.

We have children, so do you.

We’ve had careers, so have you.

We’ve had mortgages, so have you.

We’ve had ups and downs, so have you.

We’ve had family battles, so have you.

We want to spend time being happy, so do you.

We want to embrace our sexuality, so do you.

We want to experience companionship, so do you.

We want to make new friends, so do you.

You see I fail to see how we’re different. I can’t see why you seem to put yourselves above us and lump us in a “no good” category.

We don’t advertise for men with large pockets, fit bodies and dazzling smiles. We want friendship and fun – so why can’t we make it work together?

40 years ago you would have jumped at the opportunity to spend time together and make friendships or more, so what has changed?

It’s all well and good to want someone younger, prettier and fitter than the over 60 women, but you have to remember – you’re not necessarily young, fit and handsome either and expecting that while disregarding us is rude and absurd.

Although I didn’t have my heart broken, that blind date made me feel so much hurt that I was a write off from the outset.

To all men over the age of 60 throughout Australia and the rest of the world, if you’re going to label us, just remember that we and the younger generation, can do the same to you.

Regards,

One over 60 woman