Midlife women are told to shrink, to be grateful, tone it down, and not want too much. Bugger that. In this Rogue Wisdom episode, I call BS on the script that says our desires expire with age. From the boardroom to the bedroom, I dive into the cost of playing small, why women’s natural collaboration is the engine of progress, and how to reclaim unapologetic desire without guilt. Wanting more doesn’t make you greedy, it makes you alive.
Show Note:
Midlife women are conditioned to shrink @ 0:07
Jennifer discusses how midlife women are conditioned by society to shrink and not rock the boat, being told to be grateful, not do too much, and stay in their lane. She argues this cultural narrative needs to change.
Wanting more doesn’t make you ungrateful @ 0:56
Jennifer asserts that wanting more freedom, travel, play, and libido at midlife does not make one ungrateful. She argues that both gratitude and desire can coexist, and that wanting more is a sign of being alive.
The emotional and physical toll of suppressing desires @ 2:51
Jennifer explains how the cost of apologizing for wanting more manifests emotionally as quiet rage and resentment, and physically as stress, burnout, and weight issues. She links this to the common gallbladder issues in women over 40.
Women’s collaborative leadership benefits society @ 5:27
Jennifer highlights research showing that women tend to collaborate across genders and disciplines more than men, leading to richer and more inclusive progress. She argues that diversity is not just ethical, but also effective.
3-step plan to embrace unapologetic desire @ 6:58
Jennifer outlines a 3-step plan to shift this cultural narrative: 1) Name and own your desires without censoring, 2) Take one unapologetic action towards your desires, and 3) Publicly share your desires to inspire a revolution.