Comments on: Older Women Of Whitechapel

By: Susan Levinson

Susan Levinson — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 19:03:00 +0000

I would love to have a book of Phil Maxwell’s photos.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 23:51:53 +0000

How fascinating it would be to sit down with some of these women and hear their stories! I love seeing older women with their shopping trolleys, perhaps because I have one (and am one) too.

By: Cherub

Cherub — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:24:48 +0000

They look to have had hard lives touched by poverty, but I bet they were all strong characters because of it.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:38:41 +0000

I am 74 years old. The thing I appreciate about these women is that there is no obligation to be forever youthful, forever slim, forever beautiful (in the traditional sense). They are who they are. If you had walked around the city where I live in North America even 40 years ago (let alone today), people would have looked on you with pity.

To be honest, I’ve always loved the photos of older women you’ve shared – especially the rollicking groups of older women on bus tours, or in pubs.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 12:31:31 +0000

A wonderful series. Some of the most remarkable FACES I’ve ever seen. Enduring, tenacious,
bleary-eyed, world-weary, tender-hearted, savvy and oh-so-wise. “Living in the Layers” indeed.
(a favorite poem about aging by Stanley Kunitz)

In the past couple of weeks, there has been a lot written about the role of older women, in the wake of the passing of fashion icon Iris Apfel. She died at 102, after becoming “a thing” (influencer)
in her 80s. She refused to be invisible, and described herself as an “accidental celebrity”. I am not comparing her directly with these ladies — however, the larger discussion is how women in general are often marginalized once their beauty fades. Their value, their contribution, their gravitas, their life lessons, etc. — All these assets are over-looked once they no longer are “decorative”.

These photos (and the comments by the photographer) uplifted the value of older women;
most appreciated, especially since I am a “senior” woman myself.

By: achim

achim — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 09:37:04 +0000

Wonderful! I have great respect for these women who have worked hard all their lives and achieved a lot. The special thing about them is that THEY are the ones who have a clear view of many essential things in life!

They remind me of my mum, who died at the age of 84.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Wendy

Wendy — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 07:55:58 +0000

They certainly have a look of ‘no nonsense’ about these ladies. They look fabulous though I’m glad the fag hanging out of the mouth fashion has died off these days. I wonder how old they are at the time of their photo.