Hags

The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women

By: Victoria Smith

Narrated by: Victoria Smith

'Rich, complex and witty' ROSE GEORGE, SPECTATOR

'Devastating and clever' BEL MOONEY, DAILY MAIL

'Could not be more necessary' RACHEL COOKE, OBSERVER

What is about women in their forties and beyond that seems to enrage - almost everyone?

In the last few years, as identity politics have taken hold, middle-aged women have found themselves talked and written about as morally inferior beings: the face of bigotry, entitlement and selfishness, to be ignored, pitied or abused.

In Hags, Victoria Smith asks why these women are treated with such active disdain. Each chapter takes a different theme - care work, beauty, violence, political organization, sex - and explores it in relation to middle-aged women's beliefs, bodies, histories and choices. Smith traces the attitudes she describes through history, and explores the very specific reasons why this type of misogyny is so very now. The result is a book that is absorbing, insightful, witty and bang on time.

Shortlisted for the Nero Book Awards announced 21 November 2023. ©2023 Victoria Smith (P)2023 Hachette Audio UK

TERF warning

Good premise, but I am ashamed to have spent money on this TERF book. I should have read Storygraph reviews before buying.

If you’re an ally to the trans community, skip this book.

I made it as far as Chapter 2, trying to give the author a fair shake. This is difficult - as a cis white middle class woman, I identify with a lot of what she is saying, but the transphobia is coming out more and more and I just don’t think there’s any value to my continuing. Adding this book to my DNF pile.

Misogyny and The Middle Age Female "OTHER"

A huge break through work with an exceptionally strong theoretical foundation that places misogyny women
have experienced throughout centuries in the context of female biology and in this case, signs of aging.

Smith examines the social phenomenon of female middle age and the ways women are targeted by a widespread, personalized contempt, hate, and even violent disdain for the social crime of "she who did not stay young".

Aside from violence and brutality, the only slightly less painful consequence of middle aged woman's total erasure by cultural conditioning that so insistently pressures younger women to dismiss and cut all inter-generational connection, and opportunity to learn from the wisdom of their middle aged sisters, pushing young women toward increased isolation and vulnerability to the incredibly damaging effects of misogyny.

Exceptional writing and narration this book a true ground breaker that will have all women banding together to embrace and affirm the social connectedness so paramount to our successful collective survival.

Beautifully done!

Love the research and storyline. This story has humor and bravery. The honesty is essential and brutal.