Bodies such as the one depicted in the statue of the Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük, mentioned in Angela Saini’s article, are never celebrated in our society, no matter the age of the woman (I’ve spent a decade studying gender and I can tell you: as a woman, ageing sets you free, 29 December). The social expectation for older women is that we will dye our hair as it greys, continue to shave our body hair, dress becomingly, not allow ourselves to retain the fat that our bodies often lean towards in midlife and generally present ourselves as men would like to view us, even as we become increasingly invisible to them.
As for power – yes, there are (thank god) more women than ever before heading up university departments, editing newspapers and chairing boards – but how many of them, like Ms Saini, had the privilege of an elite education and good looks to boot?
