Sixty and Speaking Up

Women in Their 60s Share Their Truths, Triumphs and Transitions

Georgina O’Hara Callan, 2025

"Women in their 60s are far more supportive of each other than society will ever be of women in this age group."

You may be in your early 60s, or approaching 70, or somewhere in the middle of the decade. You may be slowing down or finding yourself busier than ever facing new challenges. At whatever stage of your 60s you will discover in this book authentic, relatable insights gathered from women who are navigating the same decade. Drawn from interviews and conversations with women of diverse backgrounds, the book supports the idea that the 60s is a decade of profound exploration and immense value.

There are estimated to be over 645 million women in the world in their 60s today. Married, divorced, widowed, with a partner or single, with or without children and grandchildren, a caregiver, alone or part of a community, society classifies women in their 60s as “senior”, “elderly” and “geriatric”. Women feel that these descriptions do not reflect the vibrancy of their lives today.

Whether the 60s is welcomed or viewed as a battleground upon which to fight the inevitability of aging, and the changes in our bodies and to our health, this decade provides the opportunity for assessment and preparation.

During the 50s little time is spent dwelling on how to navigate the next decade. But by the time women have reached their late 60s, many have shaped their lives to focus on the practical, physical, and emotional refinements required to live in their 70s and beyond. Often this process involves coming to terms with the past in order to make peace for the future.

A common refrain during the 60s is that women feel “invisible,” unseen and unheard after decades of having their voices acknowledged and their advice valued. While the opportunity for solitude and reflection is cherished by some, others ask about the point of gathering wisdom if it is not appreciated or wanted. In a world that is focused on the skills of younger people, older women may feel invalidated and redundant. Some women report losing a sense of direction or purpose during their 60s, while others find new interests and passions.

Read on for more details about the book or connect here.

The book covers topics at the core of the lives of women in their 60s; how friendships change, renew, cement or run their course, how family dynamics shift along with roles within them, how adult children view the aging process in their mothers, and how women adapt to witnessing age limitations in those they care for as well as themselves.

Women in their 60s write about health, wellness, and sex. Women describe encountering terminal illness, loss, grief, and deep sadness. Women write of how they coped and moved forward; others discuss their feelings in confronting their own mortality.

Many women address the process of adapting to a new view of self-image while inhabiting a body they do not recognize or never imagined.

Women also describe feeling lost and overwhelmed, viewing the 60s only as an unavoidable passageway to old age. Others articulate their fears of the next decades for themselves and their partners and families.

Today women in their 60s work longer than previous generations and delay retirement. They often find themselves trying to adapt their skills to a multi-generational workplace that can be hostile to older women. Lifelong dreams of starting over or embracing a new career are also shared.

During this decade women may shape their lives around faith, spirituality, and community, finding meaning and intention in every day. After decades of uncertainty, many women have communicated that they feel more in control of their lives than ever before.

The 60s is a decade to be cherished and celebrated.

To be one of the first to hear about the release of the book (Summer, 2025).