This is Part One of a three-part discussion. Why are middle-aged women these days subject to so much rage and hatred – frequently from people who see themselves as kind and ‘on the right side of history’? What explains the popularity of the Karen meme, which references a stereotypically privileged white woman whom everyone feels entitled to loathe? Why does this age-old misogyny feel so very now? As writer Victoria Smith approached middle age she made her peace with her sagging neckline and having to cope with ageing parents. But the disdain and vitriol she experienced as a woman in mid-life came as a shock. In her acclaimed book Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women she traces the prejudice that has been directed towards older women down the ages and explores the prevalence of witch hunts in recent years. Smith joined us on stage at The Tabernacle in London in March 2024, where she was joined by fellow writers Hadley Freeman and Sonia Sodha. Together they explored why women who have the temerity to exist beyond the age at which they are conventionally deemed desirable to men are seen as superfluous to society; and they looked for solutions which can benefit all women – whether they are hags or hags-in-waiting.
This is the first of a three-part discussion. Intelligence Squared Members can listen to all three instalments, including the Members-only Part Three, immediately.
If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more.
For £4.99 per month you'll also receive:
- Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts
- Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series
- 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events
- Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox
...
Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99:
- Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts
- Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series
...
Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more
...
Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more.
https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Journey Into Our Geopolitical Future, with Elliot Ackerman
Are You Free? How Work Relentlessly Eats Up Our Time
Comedy in Dark Times, with Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis, Part Two
Comedy in Dark Times, with Armando Iannucci and Helen Lewis, Part One
Love and Brotherhood in Black Gay Britain, with Jason Okundaye
How Technology Has Made Us What We Are, with Tom Chatfield
Misogyny and the Middle-Aged Woman, with Victoria Smith, Hadley Freeman and Sonia Sodha, Part Two
The Long Shadow of AI, with Madhumita Murgia
How to Fix the Inequality of Wealth, with Liam Byrne
Page-Turner: A History of the Notebook
Reimagining the Life of Mary, Queen of Scots, with Flora Carr
The Intelligence Squared Economic Outlook with Martin Wolf
Can You Put a Price Tag on a Life? with Jenny Kleeman
The Propagandist Who Outwitted Hitler, with Peter Pomerantsev
Debate: Save Our Private Schools – VAT Should Not Be Charged On Private School Fees, Part Two
Debate: Save Our Private Schools – VAT Should Not Be Charged On Private School Fees, Part One
Fluke: How Chance and Chaos Shapes Our Existence, with Brian Klaas
Tim Marshall: How Geography Explains Our World, Part Two
Tim Marshall: How Geography Explains Our World, Part One
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free