Editor’s Note

 

My name is Jennifer Cooper, and I’m the creator of Jennifer Magazine. I want us to change the way we talk about & experience midlife.

What’s the word that comes to mind when you think of midlife? 

  • Crisis?

  • Dissatisfaction?

  • Sadness?

If it’s something along those lines, you’re not alone.

For our entire lives, we’ve been fed the idea that once you hit a certain age, it’s around 35 in the United States, the joy you get out of life is over; everything from getting arthritis  (While We’re Young), to death being the only way out (Themla & Louise), to being completely out of touch with, well, everything (Crazy, Stupid, Love). 

In fact, when it comes to the top 10 rated movies about midlife, the middle-aged characters—almost exclusively male—are always paired with younger people, as if this is the only way people in their 40s or 50s can define themselves: in relation to the loss of their youth or distance from it.

And that’s just Hollywood. Let’s take a look at magazines… Remember More? The magazine that was supposed to be for women over 40 shuttered in 2016. The cover featured celebrities—that all had one body type—and delivered articles titled: Wear This, Not That at 30, 40, 50 and 15 Anti-Agers for Modern Life.

So when we DID finally get a magazine for midlife, it’s filled with people who are celebrated for “not looking their age,” and the articles are all about wanting to look/be/feel younger.   

Friends, we’ve got a problem. 

It’s also one I hope we can fix, together. 

The conversation has widened for sure. Currently there are a number of products aimed at peri-menopausal and menopausal women, but it’s still steeped in the ageist messaging of our youth. 

Frankly, there’s a shortage of places that celebrate the work so many are doing that shift the narrative of midlife from dread to a period of change that’s full of challenges and opportunity.

So while this time of life is messy, there’s magic in it.

This is why I created jennifer. It’s a space for connection, education, and most importantly, our pleasure.

Yes! Pleasure can be found in this space. And you deserve it.

So sit back, grab your beverage of choice and enjoy. And if you have ideas for articles or something you’d like to see, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.

xo,
Jen


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