9 Lives | Chapter 7 | Part 3: Life Expectancy is Changing the Whole Story

In modern societies, women’s life expectancies and cultural roles have changed dramatically. Advances in healthcare, nutrition, and lifestyle have significantly increased life expectancy. Today, women in many parts of the world can expect to live well into their 80s or 90s, spending nearly half of their lives in post-menopausal years. This longevity presents new opportunities and challenges that were not accounted for in traditional models of life stages.

In ancient times, life expectancy, even excluding infant mortality, was in the 30s, and lifespan, how long the most fortunate lived, was perhaps late 50s or early 60s- no more than ten years past menopause. Now we have upwards of 30 years in this stage. This is not hormonally aligned! We need estrogen and other hormones for joints and bones and brains- so life extension needs to be accompanied by health extension.

Living much of life without estrogen also has profound implications for women’s health and well-being. The decline in estrogen levels during menopause can lead to a range of physical changes, including increased risks for osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline. These health concerns necessitate a proactive approach to aging, where women are not just withdrawing from active life, but actively managing their health, staying engaged in society, and seeking ways to maintain vitality and purpose.

Additionally, the trend of later childbearing has shifted the timeline of women’s lives. Women are increasingly choosing to have children in their 30s or even 40s, extending the householder stage and delaying the transition to the forest-dweller years. This shift requires a rethinking of how we approach the aging process, as women balance careers, child-rearing, and personal growth simultaneously, often well into their 50s and beyond.

Given these changes, we need to reimagine this stage of life to reflect the realities of modern women’s lives. Women will continue to find purpose and fulfillment in their careers, communities, and families well into their later years.

For example, women in their 60s and 70s today are often at the height of their professional expertise and may be leading companies, mentoring younger generations, or engaging in activism. This active engagement in life challenges the notion that elderhood should be marked by withdrawal. Instead, it calls for a model of elderhood that integrates ongoing contributions to society with deeper spiritual and personal growth.

Moreover, the extended post-menopausal years can be seen as a time of empowerment and reinvention rather than decline. With more time and fewer family responsibilities, many women find this period an opportunity to explore new interests, develop new skills, and make significant contributions to their communities. The forest-dweller years can be redefined not as a retreat from life but as a time of renewed engagement, where wisdom and experience are actively shared.