Category: Women

Vauxhall Bridge, from the Pissing Women series, 1995 By Sophy Rickett Photograph: Courtesy: Sophy Rickett The idea for the Pissing Women series came to artist Sophy Rickett at Glastonbury festival in 1994. “For some reason, I was struck by the disparity in how men and women piss,” she later recalled. “Men seem so carefree; they […]

The cruel and unwelcoming fashion magazine editor at the icy heart of 2006 comedy hit The Devil Wears Prada may not strike many viewers as Meryl Streep’s most relatable role. But in a stage interview at the Cannes film festival the veteran film actor revealed that her turn as Miranda Priestly, the boss from hell, […]

Throughout her life, Sarah Thornton hadn’t given much thought to her breasts. They were there, of course, and they’d fed two children. But they had also attracted unwanted attention, and latterly they’d become a source of concern – with a history of breast cancer in her family, and after years of vigilance and tests, in […]

Deadlines have always been a great motivator, and now a major one is looming – death. This doesn’t feel tragic; a long deep sleep would be very nice. The question is, what do I have left to do while I am still here? I can’t deny the obvious markers of time: my face is sagging, […]

When Kate from Pembrokeshire started experiencing vertigo, flooding periods, exhaustion and brain fog at 51, she had no idea what was happening to her. “It was really scary,” she says, “I felt like I was losing my mind.” Working as the general manager of a travel company, she was surrounded by younger colleagues she didn’t feel […]

It’s easy to buy into the narrative that sex after 50 is more trouble than it is worth. Fluctuating or falling levels of sex hormones can play havoc with a woman’s desire and experience of sex during perimenopause and beyond. Not only are there physical changes that can render what was once pleasurable unsatisfying or […]

This is a problem I know well. If I wear a glossy or satin lipstick, it ends up all over my face, on the walls, passersby … but the dry, corpse-like effect from matt lipstick isn’t pleasant either. First, let’s talk lip prep. It’s worth giving your lips a scrub with a facecloth and Vaseline, […]

According to cinema and television, women are constantly forming incredible female friendships. From Steel Magnolias to Bridesmaids, Sex and the City to The Golden Girls, these are the kind of friends you can rely on to get you through the hard times – you laugh, they laugh; you cry, they cry. The only thing you […]

Q: I have difficulty concentrating and suffer from anxiety, and I can feel I am losing my confidence. What can I do? A: Prof Aimee Spector is professor of clinical psychology of ageing at UCL Most studies of menopause symptom management focus on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and physiological symptoms. This restricts treatment options for […]

Anita Powell, 50 “I discovered what perimenopause was when I was probably going through it,” laughs Anita Powell. At 45, she had joint pain and insomnia; people told her she had become “extremely snappy” and at work she found it harder to empathise. “I’m a community worker, I’m supposed to like people!” Among her friends […]