Introduction

Abstract

The shift in the cultural representations and real life experiences of women at midlife is much more than a passing trend. Rather, it is the product of a substantial transformation in the sociocultural construction of collective gendered-age identity, which has given rise to a blurring and diversification of both age and gender roles. By moving away from the traditional sociocultural construct of middle-age, the newly evolving gendered-age representations of women over 50 have generated positive meanings and more liberal behavior codes. This is a welcome move toward a better-balanced representation of this age group of women.