Time Essay: In Praise of Older Women

Perhaps it is a sign of cultural maturity; in any case, it is a welcome, and slightly amazing, development. In an almost measurable way, the average age of desirability in American women seems to have risen by a dozen years or more. Women who might have been inclined to sigh ruefully at the inanity of a shampoo ad telling them, "You're not getting older, you're getting better," are starting to believe that it may actually be true. As for men, many of whom are still afflicted by a kind of sandbox nympholepsy—the women desired...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!