you know why it’s so critically important to celebrate women over the age of 40?
because young women and girls need role models. need someone to aspire to become as they age.
as it is, society basically tells girls and young women: aspire to be 18-22. do not aspire or imagine past that, for you are useless without youth and beauty. do not aspire to be wise, or strong, beautiful without youth, or valuable with lines and wrinkles. and THAT is scary. we put a cap on aspirations for girls, because we want them to think the ideal comes and goes by 20–when really, we’re at our best for many, many years beyond.
Not to make a post about real life into a post about scifi, but this was the biggest thing that struck me about Leia in The Force Awakens. I can’t think of another time when I’ve gotten to see a teenage girl character grow up like that. Getting to see that Leia Organa grew up to continue to be shrewd and emotional and a respected leader who was still vital to her cause was incredible.