I read this post in a Facebook group called “Silver Strand Society” which sparked a few thought of my own that I would like to share. She wrote:

“Traditionally, women’s power has been heavily tied to maintaining youthful appearances, not skills and accomplishments.

Do women want to look younger because they don’t believe they can have power based on their skills and accomplishments due to sexism, lost opportunities due to raising families and supporting a man’s career, or for other reasons?

What if women could be as powerful as men without investing so much time and emotion into attempts to look younger?

What if women could develop personal and professional power to provide well for themselves and live the lives they want to live–without appearing to be younger and more beautiful than their peers?

What if raw sex appeal didn’t have anything to do with the average woman’s power over her own life?

Is this dynamic part of why so many women are terrified at the thought that others see them as “older” or as having wrinkles or, for those still dying, “gray-haired?”

Is the promotion of the obsession with youthful appearance a means of suppressing women, or is it just a way to make a lot of money because that obsession already exists?”

Below is Debra Carmon’s response to the above thoughts and questions:

My response:

I guess I am one of the lucky ones or rather I should say very blessed.

My identity has not nor ever was suppressed by supporting my husbands career. I saw things very differently. He by his work was supporting me in my main career, that of motherhood. I gladly, enthusiastically accepted my role as motherhood of six children as my main career because there is nothing more important than raising the future generation, my greatest contribution to society. You only get one chance at it so why blow it. Our society is in the mess it is because far too many women have forsaken their God given roles.

There is no greater power than that of influencing the future generation. Influence is where we women have always had great power unless we forsake our own families. We do not have to forsake family and pursue careers to be powerful. I was blessed enough to be able to stay at home and spent 30 years devoted to teaching and training my children through 19 years of homeschooling. I have no regrets.

Now that my children are all gone from home living productive lives and raising their own families I am free to continue my pursuits, hobbies, and personal business. This is my time to shine and my husband fully supports me in pursuing those things. I run a debt free personal business that is very closely connected to my creative hobbies.

When I transitioned to my natural hair color I also went through a process of accepting my coming of age. I rather think I look better today with that decision than I did when I was trying to hold onto my youth. Truth is over time our skin also goes through changes and that dark fake hair color did not look well on my fair skin. It washed out my face making me hate my own reflection in the mirror. Now that I am fully transitioned to my natural hair I love my skin better. I actually look like I have more skin color against the white hair so I feel better about myself.

As far as sex appeal goes I have men from all avenues trying to seek me daily via Facebook, Google+, YouTube, Instagram, and yes even Pinterest of all places. And I am not exaggerating either. Nor do I seek such attention. I never post sexually enticing photos of myself. I am always modestly dressed and never try to draw attention to my body. I also never post those silly kissy face poses that you see silly girls and women post. Those online advances are simply a side amusement/annoyance because I ignore DECLINE/DELETE all those daily advances. I find it amazing that a woman of age 58 is still getting advances from men.

I am admired for my example of a mother who raised some fine children and my talents and the works of my hands by both men and women. But most of those male seekers are just looking at a pretty face and the color of my hair and my age does not seem to matter at all to them. They don’t even read my profile info to see if I am even available. On Instagram I get so many requests from men who want to communicate with me that I had to take up space on my profile to write this “Artist, Teacher, Sign Painter, YouTuber, DIY kind of woman. I am here to share my creative talents not to seek a boyfriend. I am happily married.” because they NEVER even read it. Word to the men out there: Just because a woman is online does not mean she is hot to trot and seeking male companionship.

Ladies don’t be afraid of aging, getting wrinkles, or your hair color turning gray. All that is a natural process that comes with time and experience so embrace it and accept you for who you are. Be proud of who you are and where you have come from. Age is just an significant number. It is the content of ones character that really matters. Be authentically YOU!

Follow my on Instagram to see the Creative works of my hands https://www.instagram.com/debracarmona

Visit my Rumble channel where I teach the Art of Pine Needle Basketry https://rumble.com/c/CarmonaArts

Check out my popular YouTube Channel (Over 3 Million views) to see more of the things I do such as: Do-It-Yourself home repairs, gardening, raising chickens, and learn how to knit, crochet, make cute sock bunnies, and make baskets from my video tutorials. There is so much more on my channel. My YouTube channel is as varied as my interests are. https://www.youtube.com/user/dbrcarmona