five years ago I had a shot but gave me a glimpse into the future this shot was
a glimpse into the future this shot was
a glimpse into the future this shot was full of lupron LeBron if you don’t know
full of lupron LeBron if you don’t know
full of lupron LeBron if you don’t know it’s a chemical but races your estrogen
it’s a chemical but races your estrogen
it’s a chemical but races your estrogen and it puts you into premature menopause
and it puts you into premature menopause
and it puts you into premature menopause and so here I was 36 years old
and so here I was 36 years old
and so here I was 36 years old going through menopause I did not know
going through menopause I did not know
going through menopause I did not know that you could be extremely dry and
that you could be extremely dry and
that you could be extremely dry and soaking wet at the same time I didn’t
soaking wet at the same time I didn’t
soaking wet at the same time I didn’t know about how many changes of pajamas I
know about how many changes of pajamas I
know about how many changes of pajamas I would have during the night I didn’t
would have during the night I didn’t
would have during the night I didn’t know about the hair growing in places
know about the hair growing in places
know about the hair growing in places there had never been hair and the rage
there had never been hair and the rage
there had never been hair and the rage oh dear Lord the rage and it occurred to
oh dear Lord the rage and it occurred to
oh dear Lord the rage and it occurred to me why is it that I don’t know what this
me why is it that I don’t know what this
me why is it that I don’t know what this is why don’t I know what this is
is why don’t I know what this is
is why don’t I know what this is supposed to feel like I mean my mother
supposed to feel like I mean my mother
supposed to feel like I mean my mother went through it but she wasn’t really
went through it but she wasn’t really
went through it but she wasn’t really communicative and then it dawned on me I
communicative and then it dawned on me I
communicative and then it dawned on me I am aging and I don’t know what to do and
am aging and I don’t know what to do and
am aging and I don’t know what to do and I was scared to death
I was scared to death
I was scared to death and rightly so if you go to the grocery
and rightly so if you go to the grocery
and rightly so if you go to the grocery store there are so many images of women
store there are so many images of women
store there are so many images of women getting older and magazines judging them
getting older and magazines judging them
getting older and magazines judging them for it there are some magazines that
for it there are some magazines that
for it there are some magazines that point two lines on women’s faces TV
point two lines on women’s faces TV
point two lines on women’s faces TV shows will ask oh dear lord what has she
shows will ask oh dear lord what has she
shows will ask oh dear lord what has she done to her face and I thought the media
done to her face and I thought the media
done to her face and I thought the media is judging women for aging heaven forbid
is judging women for aging heaven forbid
is judging women for aging heaven forbid you have saggy cleavage or crow’s feet
you have saggy cleavage or crow’s feet
you have saggy cleavage or crow’s feet but then also shaming them for taking
but then also shaming them for taking
but then also shaming them for taking care of themselves in any way they see
care of themselves in any way they see
care of themselves in any way they see fit and I was really
fit and I was really
fit and I was really frustrated and I do what I do when I get
frustrated and I do what I do when I get
frustrated and I do what I do when I get frustrated with media I go to work my
frustrated with media I go to work my
frustrated with media I go to work my job is to study media representations of
job is to study media representations of
job is to study media representations of marginalized groups and here’s what I
marginalized groups and here’s what I
marginalized groups and here’s what I found
found
found media socialization is a theory that
media socialization is a theory that
media socialization is a theory that says that the television or media but
says that the television or media but
says that the television or media but we’re talking about television today but
we’re talking about television today but
we’re talking about television today but television tells us who we can be
television tells us who we can be
television tells us who we can be and what roles we are to have in society
and what roles we are to have in society
and what roles we are to have in society in other words television create a
in other words television create a
in other words television create a reality for what is possible so if
reality for what is possible so if
reality for what is possible so if you’re growing up in the 1980s you learn
you’re growing up in the 1980s you learn
you’re growing up in the 1980s you learn watching Claire Huxtable that it is
watching Claire Huxtable that it is
watching Claire Huxtable that it is possible to be a successful
possible to be a successful
possible to be a successful african-american lawyer and have a
african-american lawyer and have a
african-american lawyer and have a family and be married to a doctor you
family and be married to a doctor you
family and be married to a doctor you learn that that is something that is
learn that that is something that is
learn that that is something that is possible for you also what I learned is
possible for you also what I learned is
possible for you also what I learned is that television has not been kind to
that television has not been kind to
that television has not been kind to women as they age and Brandi she was a
women as they age and Brandi she was a
women as they age and Brandi she was a spinster the next one’s gonna freak you
spinster the next one’s gonna freak you
spinster the next one’s gonna freak you out
Alice was 44 years old I know
Alice was 44 years old I know Edith bunker harried housewife 46 and
Edith bunker harried housewife 46 and
Edith bunker harried housewife 46 and she did go through menopause for half of
she did go through menopause for half of
she did go through menopause for half of an episode never to be talked about
an episode never to be talked about
an episode never to be talked about again Florida Evans from good times
again Florida Evans from good times
again Florida Evans from good times again strong mother but didn’t really
again strong mother but didn’t really
again strong mother but didn’t really talk about what it was like to be at one
talk about what it was like to be at one
talk about what it was like to be at one point a single mother raising all these
point a single mother raising all these
point a single mother raising all these children and aging and then in the 1980s
children and aging and then in the 1980s
children and aging and then in the 1980s something wonderful happened in 1984
something wonderful happened in 1984
something wonderful happened in 1984 there was Jessica Fletcher for Murder
there was Jessica Fletcher for Murder
there was Jessica Fletcher for Murder She Wrote played by Angela Lansbury and
She Wrote played by Angela Lansbury and
She Wrote played by Angela Lansbury and she was great she was fit remember in
she was great she was fit remember in
she was great she was fit remember in the beginning of a show should be riding
the beginning of a show should be riding
the beginning of a show should be riding her bike or jogging and then always
her bike or jogging and then always
her bike or jogging and then always seemed to love her you know the minute
seemed to love her you know the minute
seemed to love her you know the minute would always flirt with her
would always flirt with her
would always flirt with her of course don’t invite her to a dinner
of course don’t invite her to a dinner
of course don’t invite her to a dinner party someone would end up dead you
party someone would end up dead you
party someone would end up dead you don’t want to do that and you imagine
don’t want to do that and you imagine
don’t want to do that and you imagine every time she comes in where someone’s
every time she comes in where someone’s
every time she comes in where someone’s killed
killed
killed and then in 1985 the Golden Girls well I
and then in 1985 the Golden Girls well I
and then in 1985 the Golden Girls well I didn’t make it one of the widths the
didn’t make it one of the widths the
didn’t make it one of the widths the Golden Girls were for women aging living
Golden Girls were for women aging living
Golden Girls were for women aging living in the same house working taking care of
in the same house working taking care of
in the same house working taking care of themselves eating cheesecake and having
themselves eating cheesecake and having
themselves eating cheesecake and having sex right when Blanche was 52 remember
sex right when Blanche was 52 remember
sex right when Blanche was 52 remember she thought she was pregnant there was
she thought she was pregnant there was
she thought she was pregnant there was an episode but in actuality she was
an episode but in actuality she was
an episode but in actuality she was going through menopause again at the end
going through menopause again at the end
going through menopause again at the end of that episode they talked about it
of that episode they talked about it
of that episode they talked about it never to be talked about again but it
never to be talked about again but it
never to be talked about again but it did happen it happened for her and then
did happen it happened for her and then
did happen it happened for her and then if you zoom forward to the 2000s he of
if you zoom forward to the 2000s he of
if you zoom forward to the 2000s he of julianna margulies alicia florrick from
julianna margulies alicia florrick from
julianna margulies alicia florrick from The Good Wife when the show started she
The Good Wife when the show started she
The Good Wife when the show started she was 46 ended she was about 50 and this
was 46 ended she was about 50 and this
was 46 ended she was about 50 and this was a new representation of women aging
was a new representation of women aging
was a new representation of women aging or getting older on television she was
or getting older on television she was
or getting older on television she was extremely sexy this was actually one of
extremely sexy this was actually one of
extremely sexy this was actually one of the first year the show was airing this
the first year the show was airing this
the first year the show was airing this is one of the ads that they ran again
is one of the ads that they ran again
is one of the ads that they ran again she’s very sexual she’s in charge of her
she’s very sexual she’s in charge of her
she’s very sexual she’s in charge of her decision-making after her husband did
decision-making after her husband did
decision-making after her husband did what he did and so she was starting over
what he did and so she was starting over
what he did and so she was starting over again and she was leading a group of
again and she was leading a group of
again and she was leading a group of people and then more recently there’s
people and then more recently there’s
people and then more recently there’s Annalise Keating from how to get away
Annalise Keating from how to get away
Annalise Keating from how to get away with murder she is fabulous she is
with murder she is fabulous she is
with murder she is fabulous she is fierce she leads a group of young people
fierce she leads a group of young people
fierce she leads a group of young people who actually listen to what she says to
who actually listen to what she says to
who actually listen to what she says to do like my students do and I thought oh
do like my students do and I thought oh
do like my students do and I thought oh this is a new image of women they have
this is a new image of women they have
this is a new image of women they have sexual agency they’re making decisions
sexual agency they’re making decisions
sexual agency they’re making decisions but then something dawned on me
but then something dawned on me
but then something dawned on me something was missing and I didn’t
something was missing and I didn’t
something was missing and I didn’t recognize it until I was watching an
recognize it until I was watching an
recognize it until I was watching an episode of how to get away with murder
episode of how to get away with murder
episode of how to get away with murder you see these images of women in their
you see these images of women in their
you see these images of women in their late 40s early 50s what they’re really
late 40s early 50s what they’re really
late 40s early 50s what they’re really saying on the shows they’re saying that
saying on the shows they’re saying that
saying on the shows they’re saying that in spite of getting older these women
in spite of getting older these women
in spite of getting older these women are still fabulous
are still fabulous
are still fabulous and I think a better storyline is
and I think a better storyline is
and I think a better storyline is because they are getting older they’re
because they are getting older they’re
because they are getting older they’re still fabulous so this is the episode of
still fabulous so this is the episode of
still fabulous so this is the episode of how to get away that I saw him that I
how to get away that I saw him that I
how to get away that I saw him that I thought wait there’s something else
thought wait there’s something else
thought wait there’s something else going on here
going on here
going on here so obviously this picture of Viola Davis
so obviously this picture of Viola Davis
so obviously this picture of Viola Davis she’s wearing her wig she’s got her
she’s wearing her wig she’s got her
she’s wearing her wig she’s got her makeup done flawlessly the picture next
makeup done flawlessly the picture next
makeup done flawlessly the picture next to it is a scene where she’s taken off
to it is a scene where she’s taken off
to it is a scene where she’s taken off the wig taken off the makeup and the
the wig taken off the makeup and the
the wig taken off the makeup and the gray in her afro the furrow and her brow
gray in her afro the furrow and her brow
gray in her afro the furrow and her brow that is who she is and that is authentic
that is who she is and that is authentic
that is who she is and that is authentic and those of you who watched it so know
and those of you who watched it so know
and those of you who watched it so know exactly what she said in this scene I
exactly what she said in this scene I
exactly what she said in this scene I won’t say it because this is being
won’t say it because this is being
won’t say it because this is being videotaped but she says her husband what
videotaped but she says her husband what
videotaped but she says her husband what is a picture of your hoo-ha doing in a
is a picture of your hoo-ha doing in a
is a picture of your hoo-ha doing in a 20 year olds phone so she’s saying I
20 year olds phone so she’s saying I
20 year olds phone so she’s saying I know you’re cheating on me with a 20
know you’re cheating on me with a 20
know you’re cheating on me with a 20 year old and in this scene she is more
year old and in this scene she is more
year old and in this scene she is more herself then she’s ever been on the show
herself then she’s ever been on the show
herself then she’s ever been on the show she is empowered she is strong she is
she is empowered she is strong she is
she is empowered she is strong she is vulnerable but she is telling the truth
vulnerable but she is telling the truth
vulnerable but she is telling the truth and again I think this is where the
and again I think this is where the
and again I think this is where the power is
power is
power is and I thought television is not telling
and I thought television is not telling
and I thought television is not telling those stories and so what are women to
those stories and so what are women to
those stories and so what are women to do if they don’t see that they can be
do if they don’t see that they can be
do if they don’t see that they can be fabulous and mature so what do women do
fabulous and mature so what do women do
fabulous and mature so what do women do well some women cut into their faces to
well some women cut into their faces to
well some women cut into their faces to exercise the years to tell the world I
exercise the years to tell the world I
exercise the years to tell the world I still have a story to tell I can still
still have a story to tell I can still
still have a story to tell I can still tell an interesting story or women
tell an interesting story or women
tell an interesting story or women insert toxins into their cheeks and
insert toxins into their cheeks and
insert toxins into their cheeks and their foreheads to remain relevant in
their foreheads to remain relevant in
their foreheads to remain relevant in today’s media world recently there was a
today’s media world recently there was a
today’s media world recently there was a California law suit with Junie Wong who
California law suit with Junie Wong who
California law suit with Junie Wong who sued IMDB in its parent company Amazon
sued IMDB in its parent company Amazon
sued IMDB in its parent company Amazon for putting her actual age on imdb.com
for putting her actual age on imdb.com
for putting her actual age on imdb.com according to Wong she was saying that in
according to Wong she was saying that in
according to Wong she was saying that in Hollywood youth is power youth is king
Hollywood youth is power youth is king
Hollywood youth is power youth is king and by putting her actual birth year
and by putting her actual birth year
and by putting her actual birth year on IMDB it was keeping her from getting
on IMDB it was keeping her from getting
on IMDB it was keeping her from getting work and so then I asked myself the
work and so then I asked myself the
work and so then I asked myself the question is this IMDb’s fault of course
question is this IMDb’s fault of course
question is this IMDb’s fault of course it’s not
it’s not
it’s not IMDB puts everyone’s ages right on there
IMDB puts everyone’s ages right on there
IMDB puts everyone’s ages right on there on the database really it’s our fault
on the database really it’s our fault
on the database really it’s our fault every time you click on line when it
every time you click on line when it
every time you click on line when it says you won’t believe this actress from
says you won’t believe this actress from
says you won’t believe this actress from Little House on the Prairie you won’t
Little House on the Prairie you won’t
Little House on the Prairie you won’t believe what she looks like now and you
believe what she looks like now and you
believe what she looks like now and you click on it they click fate you’re
click on it they click fate you’re
click on it they click fate you’re telling the media it’s perfectly okay to
telling the media it’s perfectly okay to
telling the media it’s perfectly okay to shame women for aging however they
shame women for aging however they
shame women for aging however they choose to age but more than us it’s
choose to age but more than us it’s
choose to age but more than us it’s televisions fault right it’s the
televisions fault right it’s the
televisions fault right it’s the executives fault what is fascinating to
executives fault what is fascinating to
executives fault what is fascinating to me is that television is an industry run
me is that television is an industry run
me is that television is an industry run by money and 50% of the population are
by money and 50% of the population are
by money and 50% of the population are 50 and over and 70% of the disposable
50 and over and 70% of the disposable
50 and over and 70% of the disposable income in this country is controlled by
income in this country is controlled by
income in this country is controlled by that group of people and this is
that group of people and this is
that group of people and this is fascinating in the next 20 years that
fascinating in the next 20 years that
fascinating in the next 20 years that group 50 and over stands to inherit 15
group 50 and over stands to inherit 15
group 50 and over stands to inherit 15 trillion dollars most of that money not
trillion dollars most of that money not
trillion dollars most of that money not for nothing inherited by women cuz the
for nothing inherited by women cuz the
for nothing inherited by women cuz the men go first
yes television producers knowing this
yes television producers knowing this knowing that the whole sole purpose for
knowing that the whole sole purpose for
knowing that the whole sole purpose for network television is to deliver
network television is to deliver
network television is to deliver audience to advertisers they’re ignoring
audience to advertisers they’re ignoring
audience to advertisers they’re ignoring this group they’re ignoring stories
this group they’re ignoring stories
this group they’re ignoring stories about these women at their own financial
about these women at their own financial
about these women at their own financial peril because really at the end of the
peril because really at the end of the
peril because really at the end of the day this is where the money is this is
day this is where the money is this is
day this is where the money is this is what your bread and butter is gonna be
what your bread and butter is gonna be
what your bread and butter is gonna be but they’re ignoring it and I think
but they’re ignoring it and I think
but they’re ignoring it and I think they’re ignoring it for two reasons to
they’re ignoring it for two reasons to
they’re ignoring it for two reasons to be honest I think first executives are
be honest I think first executives are
be honest I think first executives are fearful of their own aging process and
fearful of their own aging process and
fearful of their own aging process and then second I think that they are
then second I think that they are
then second I think that they are socialized to believe that those women’s
socialized to believe that those women’s
socialized to believe that those women’s stories don’t matter and so ironically
stories don’t matter and so ironically
stories don’t matter and so ironically or maybe not so Veronica Lee the most
or maybe not so Veronica Lee the most
or maybe not so Veronica Lee the most powerful stories told about women who
powerful stories told about women who
powerful stories told about women who were aging are found on streaming
were aging are found on streaming
were aging are found on streaming services that don’t rely on advertising
services that don’t rely on advertising
services that don’t rely on advertising so this is an example of one of those
so this is an example of one of those
so this is an example of one of those this is Grace and Frankie played by Lily
this is Grace and Frankie played by Lily
this is Grace and Frankie played by Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda they’re in their
Tomlin and Jane Fonda they’re in their
Tomlin and Jane Fonda they’re in their late 70s interestingly enough the men
late 70s interestingly enough the men
late 70s interestingly enough the men who play their husbands are younger than
who play their husbands are younger than
who play their husbands are younger than they are you know that never happens and
they are you know that never happens and
they are you know that never happens and these women if you don’t know the
these women if you don’t know the
these women if you don’t know the premise of this show I’m not gonna ruin
premise of this show I’m not gonna ruin
premise of this show I’m not gonna ruin a whole lot of things or every one part
a whole lot of things or every one part
a whole lot of things or every one part of how to get away with murder but these
of how to get away with murder but these
of how to get away with murder but these women have found themselves living
women have found themselves living
women have found themselves living together in a gorgeous beach house of
together in a gorgeous beach house of
together in a gorgeous beach house of course because their husbands have left
course because their husbands have left
course because their husbands have left them for each other and so these women
them for each other and so these women
them for each other and so these women these women are rebuilding their lives
these women are rebuilding their lives
these women are rebuilding their lives and their figure and who they are and
and their figure and who they are and
and their figure and who they are and they’re dating and they’re using organic
they’re dating and they’re using organic
they’re dating and they’re using organic Lube because they’re having sex and so
Lube because they’re having sex and so
Lube because they’re having sex and so that is a part of the magic of getting
that is a part of the magic of getting
that is a part of the magic of getting older another example as this show
older another example as this show
older another example as this show transparent if you watch the show if
transparent if you watch the show if
transparent if you watch the show if you’re not watching the show you really
you’re not watching the show you really
you’re not watching the show you really should be watching the show it’s on
should be watching the show it’s on
should be watching the show it’s on Amazon Prime this show is about a
Amazon Prime this show is about a
Amazon Prime this show is about a transgendered woman in her 60s who has
transgendered woman in her 60s who has
transgendered woman in her 60s who has discovered that she is transgender and
discovered that she is transgender and
discovered that she is transgender and or surahs living is starting to live as
or surahs living is starting to live as
or surahs living is starting to live as a transgender woman and so the first two
a transgender woman and so the first two
a transgender woman and so the first two seasons really focused on Maura’s
seasons really focused on Maura’s
seasons really focused on Maura’s transformation and Maura’s discovery of
transformation and Maura’s discovery of
transformation and Maura’s discovery of what it is to be
what it is to be
what it is to be an older woman in this country but by
an older woman in this country but by
an older woman in this country but by the end of the third season I’m not
the end of the third season I’m not
the end of the third season I’m not gonna ruin it but the end of the third
gonna ruin it but the end of the third
gonna ruin it but the end of the third season something else wonderful happens
season something else wonderful happens
season something else wonderful happens it’s not just Morra who is coming of age
it’s not just Morra who is coming of age
it’s not just Morra who is coming of age it’s more his wife Shelley Shelley
it’s more his wife Shelley Shelley
it’s more his wife Shelley Shelley really discovers who she is
really discovers who she is
really discovers who she is after Morra has left her and okay I’m
after Morra has left her and okay I’m
after Morra has left her and okay I’m gonna ruin it
gonna ruin it
gonna ruin it after Shelley leaves her new boyfriend
after Shelley leaves her new boyfriend
after Shelley leaves her new boyfriend who is taking advantage of her taking
who is taking advantage of her taking
who is taking advantage of her taking her money inherent basically and so she
her money inherent basically and so she
her money inherent basically and so she kicks the boyfriend out and she begins
kicks the boyfriend out and she begins
kicks the boyfriend out and she begins to tell her own stories and in this
to tell her own stories and in this
to tell her own stories and in this scene she’s singing and I an Alanis
scene she’s singing and I an Alanis
scene she’s singing and I an Alanis Morissette song on a cruise ship and
Morissette song on a cruise ship and
Morissette song on a cruise ship and it’s just fabulous and so it is here
it’s just fabulous and so it is here
it’s just fabulous and so it is here online that we have power and so what I
online that we have power and so what I
online that we have power and so what I want you to do I want you to tweet about
want you to do I want you to tweet about
want you to do I want you to tweet about these shows I want you to share them
these shows I want you to share them
these shows I want you to share them with your friends on Facebook I want you
with your friends on Facebook I want you
with your friends on Facebook I want you to tweet the producers and the writers
to tweet the producers and the writers
to tweet the producers and the writers and then tweet some of the advertisers
and then tweet some of the advertisers
and then tweet some of the advertisers of how to get away with murder and say
of how to get away with murder and say
of how to get away with murder and say we want to see more of these stories
we want to see more of these stories
we want to see more of these stories these stories are important us and I am
these stories are important us and I am
these stories are important us and I am NOT just speaking to women over the age
NOT just speaking to women over the age
NOT just speaking to women over the age of 40 I’m speaking to all of you even
of 40 I’m speaking to all of you even
of 40 I’m speaking to all of you even you 30 year olds because you know what
you 30 year olds because you know what
you 30 year olds because you know what you’re in the fourth decade of your life
oh stop whining and the fourth and fifth
oh stop whining and the fourth and fifth are just around the corner and when you
are just around the corner and when you
are just around the corner and when you do this when we all do this we give
do this when we all do this we give
do this when we all do this we give voice to women and we tell little girls
voice to women and we tell little girls
voice to women and we tell little girls that their stories will matter
that their stories will matter
that their stories will matter throughout the rest of their lives thank
throughout the rest of their lives thank
throughout the rest of their lives thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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