International Women’s Day: Honoring the Past, Accelerating the Future
Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the rich history and enduring spirit of women worldwide. This year’s theme, #AccelerateAction for gender equality, calls on us to push forward with urgency in advancing women’s rights globally. It is a moment to reflect on how far we have come and to recognize the work still left to do.
For those of us in midlife, particularly women over 50 and 60, this day is more than just a celebration—it is a reminder of the movements that shaped our youth, the struggles that defined generations, and the responsibility we carry to continue the fight.
If you are in menopause or over 60, then you were born into a world of societal and political upheaval. The airwaves carried the sounds of change: Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’ or Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come played in the background of your childhood. You may not have fully understood it at the time, but you were born into an era of transformation.
The World We Lived Through
By the time I was ten years old, I had already witnessed the turbulence of history unfold before me:
The Vietnam War
The assassination of a President (John F. Kennedy)
The assassination of a President’s brother (Robert F. Kennedy)
The assassination of Malcolm X
The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Civil Rights Movement and the enactment of the Civil Rights Act
The Women’s Liberation Movement and the fight for women’s rights
The Gay Liberation Movement
The Jesus Movement, the Hare Krishnas chanting outside grocery stores, and spiritual teachers from India introducing transcendental meditation
The rise of the Hippie movement, protests on Telegraph Ave and UC Berkeley’s campus, just steps from my great-aunt and great-grandmother's house
The emergence of the Black Panther Party in Oakland, which spread across the country
The unforgettable incident involving the SLA and Patty Hearst’s kidnapping
The music of the time—a powerful soundtrack to the revolution unfolding around us
For women now in their 50s and 60s, this was the backdrop of our childhoods. We played outside, rode our bikes, swooned over The Beatles or The Jackson 5, and baked in our Easy-Bake Ovens while history unfolded around us. We were the youngest Baby Boomers (aka the Jones Generation), and the oldest Gen Xers, inheriting a world that demanded change and, in many ways, still does.
The Movement Continues
In 2025, these movements have evolved, but the fight is far from over. The battles for reproductive rights, equal pay, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and fair representation in leadership roles continue. The climate we live in today, particularly in the United States, makes it clear that progress is never guaranteed—it must be protected and advanced.
That is why today, we honor the history made by the young women and the older generations who came before us. The women who marched, protested, organized, and demanded better so that my generation—as well as Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Generation Alpha can thrive.
Midlife Women: Your Role is Vital
Women in midlife have a unique and crucial role in this ongoing movement. We are the bridge between past and future, carrying the wisdom of history while guiding younger generations with our lived experience. Whether through advocacy, mentoring, voting, or using our voices in our communities, we can and must continue to shape the world for the better.
The times, they are a-changin', and the struggle continues. But so does our resilience, our strength, and our commitment to the future.
Happy International Women’s Day. Let’s keep moving forward. #AccelerateAction