Harriet Harman says broadcast media should value older women

The Equalities Minister repeated criticism of the BBC and other broadcasters for “outdated” discrimination against older women in journalism. She said: “The broadcast media is able to value the older man for his experience and wisdom but does not find it possible to value the older woman in the same way.”

To be a BBC or ITV news presenter, a woman has to be 10 years younger than a man, she said. “This is an outdated view which is resented not just by women in the broadcast media but also by women viewers.” 

In a speech to Age UK, the new lobbying group formed of a merger between Age Concern and Help the Aged, Miss Harman criticised media images of women as they age. Miss Harman pointed out that manipulating images undervalues the "experience and wisdom" of older women. She said that “Airbrushing – like the controversial airbrushing of Twiggy in a recent Olay advertisement – is rooted in the sexist notion that sexual attractiveness of a woman in the reproductive years is the most important characteristic for a woman and places no value on experience and wisdom in a woman.”

According to her "there’s nothing wrong with women ageing. It’s just a different stage of their life. Many are just getting in to their prime in their working life – having taken off time work when their children were young. Many are newly at the heart of caring responsibilities within their families as they take on a role in caring for their grandchildren.”

Last year, the Olay advertisement featuring Twiggy was banned by the Advertising Standards Agency because of digital enhancements to hide lines around the model’s eyes.

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