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
More from Jennifer Cooper…
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Chronic conditions are often labeled as something that makes you weak. Lilly Stairs refuses to accept that narrative. "My chronic conditions have certainly shaped who I am as a person today but they have not made me weak—they have made me strong, resilient, and fueled my drive to create change." She shares the power behind her latest venture, the Chronic Boss Collective.
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This is not an easy conversation. However, since 1 in 4 women experience intimate partner violence and according to Statisa, “perpetrators of child abuse are more likely to be parents of the child, rather than a non-parent,” it’s a conversation we need to have. If not for ourselves, then for our friends and family so we can better support them.
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If you’ve dreamed of going from W2 to CEO, or fall back in love with your business, Jen Wilson wants you to know it’s possible. We talk about the ditching the toxic stories of our youth, the challenges of being part of the “middle kid generation” and how we can create a life that lights us up all the way.
“Anti-aging” is marketing, not science. So what will actually help you live a healthier, more fulfilling life with style? We asked empowered aging and longevity coach, Dr. Nicole Maricone to share her tips for living La Dolce Vita; the sweet life.
A growing number of young people are now identifying as transgender. So, it can come as a shock when your child says, “I’m trans.” Here’s what one parent wants you to know about the experience.
The hormonal changes during perimenopause can make fibroids and the symptoms they cause worse, but you don’t have to live with the pain. However, it may take multiple doctors and interventions before you find a treatment that works for you.
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Want to look and feel younger, sexier, and more alive? We searched for the fountain of youth and found it. And we’re not keeping it to ourselves. Here are the tips, tricks, and secrets to real anti-aging movement.
Artist Monica Shulman’s Hudson Valley studio is bright, airy, and filled with large canvases that explode with color. They’re hard to ignore. In fact, Shulman herself is hard to ignore. We had a radically honest conversation—she didn’t hold back, you all—about her work, our ideas of beauty as we age, and the art of taking up all the damn space we want.
Greg and Erica Reitman have a history of making bold moves. Now, they’re in Mexico City, living life on their terms and helping others do the same through their new all-in-one empire building Icon Agency. The agency’s CEO, Greg himself, shares why you shouldn’t wait to make a bold move, how our brains try to mess with us, and dishes on his favorite places in Mexico City.
Gun violence is a deadly problem in the United States. While studies show that more guns lead to more homicides, more women than ever before are arming themselves. So where do we go from here? Is it possible to imagine a future free from gun violence? Quiana Agbai believes in that future and shares some ways we can get there.
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Like most women her age, Lisa Anderson Shaffer contains multitudes. She wrote a book, hosts a podcast, and when she turned 45, she decided to take up skateboarding. She shares what can happen when you choose joy over fear.
Wondering what cannabis products can help reduce the symptoms of peri-menopause or menopause? A cannabis concierge can help. Learn more about this service with HiVi founder Eunice Kim.