Look i dont wanna sound like a Fandom Mom or whatever but what do you think women over 25 or so are supposed to do? Do u really think theyre supposed to drop all their interests and just talk about taxes and marriage or whatever? It seems like 25+ year old fanboys do not receive this kind of “ooh cringe” reaction either. There are guys in their 40s with comic book collections and shit and people might think theyre a nerd at worst, not a freak who shouldnt be trusted
(Apologies to OP for blasting on here with this wall of text but I get so angry about this whole “lol women over 30 in fandom are so cringe” thing, so)
Women over 30 are supposed to quietly fade into the background of other people’s lives. We’re supposed to give up everything for our husbands (going to expand on this later, bear with me here) and children, and play second fiddle to them. This idea is reinforced by a lot of media the people on tumblr consume. Women as heroes? They’re all young, beautiful and single. The “strong” woman that kicks ass? Young, beautiful and single.
And before y’all @ me with counterexamples, sit your ass down and count the movies you know in which older women (over 40) or women who are married and have kids play a role besides “mentor for the young” vs the number of movies in which the woman who gets to do important stuff is, well, young, beautiful and single. Sit down and count the number of women actors over 40 that you know about vs the number of women actors under 40, and THEN do the same for men. Yes, you’re allowed to google their ages. The results will surprise you!
Don’t even get me started on the ideas about motherhood. For one, try being childfree and over 30. If you think being childfree and young is bad enough, let me tell you that nope, it gets worse.
Then there’s these posts that run around everywhere, including and especially tumblr, that tell people that “if you have children and don’t give up everything for them and always put them first you’re a TERRIBLE MOTHER”. Holy fuck they make me angry. For one, next time you see one, notice how it’s always about the mothers. You don’t see posts calling out the dads for not putting their children first 100% of the time.
Second, holy fuck how entitled are you even??? Do you really expect that everyone drops their passions, interests, careers and relationships just because you showed up on the planet? Jesus Christ on a pogo stick. Get a grip and realize that the world isn’t about you all the time. Mothers are people, too, and people deserve to have some me time. Even if it occasionally comes at the expense of their children. It’s a good lesson to learn, actually. Makes you, well, less entitled. Also, let me introduce you to the concept of single mothers, who often have to work jobs that make it necessary for them to leave their children with friends, relatives or neighbors. And when the kid is old enough to look after themselves for a few hours (usually around 12), well, they get to look after themselves. It’s either that or fucking starve.
And now for the husbands. “But we left that concept behind in the 50s! Nowadays, women can work and do their own thing even if they’re married!” Ahahaha sure, Jan. Let me tell you, the woman is still expected to, if necessary, be the first to drop their job, hobbies etc. and do the unpaid and often unappreciated work. Relationships where these things are shared equally or the guy does most of the work around the house and stop working are few and far between.
I can already hear people going “straight culture ew” but every time you, the queer youngster, post or reblog something about how older women in fandom are cringe or how mothers should always put their children first, you’re showing that you’ve adopted that culture without even reflecting on it. Oh, sure, your wonderful, equal queer relationship will be different, but you’re still expecting your parents to adhere to those norms, thereby perpetrating them.
tl;dr: it’s because of misogyny and gender roles.
Steel Phoenix Studios 