The Impact of Media Commentary on Women’s Aging

Shirley Manson, the lead vocalist of the band Garbage, recently took to Instagram to voice her opposition against media portrayals that critique women’s appearances, particularly as they age. In her view, such language is “weaponized,” aiming to diminish the presence and contributions of older women in the music industry.

Confronting Ageist Narratives

This past Saturday, Manson shared a screenshot of a headline from the Daily Mail that remarked on her and her bandmates’ looks in a promotional photo for their new single, “Operate in Future Optimism.” She expressed her frustration over such reporting, questioning the implications of being labeled “unrecognizable.”

“What does this mean?!? Druids look like they’ve been there for 30 years,” Manson wrote, emphasizing the absurdity of the media’s focus on physical appearance.

Aging with Grace

In her post, Manson acknowledged her age, stating, “I’m almost 60 years old. Of course, I don’t look like I’m in my late 20s.” She argued that societal expectations surrounding aging should be challenged, declaring:

“This gift is a failure. I will continue to age like me. I will keep on getting wrinkled. I will sway more violently than most.”

Upcoming Tour and New Music

Garbage is set to embark on a 31-date tour across the United States later this year, reinforcing their longstanding influence in the alternative rock genre. Stops on the tour will include major cities such as New York and San Francisco. This tour follows their collaborative headlining trek with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2023 and marks the first time they will lead a North American tour in nearly a decade.

In addition to their tour, Garbage is preparing to release their eighth studio album, Let All the Light Be the Light, scheduled for May 30th, following the 2021 album, No God No Master.