Into battle with warrior woman

Forget the Wag – there’s a new breed of woman dominating the headlines. She is feisty, fabulous, and would never be defined by her man (even if he is the president of the US). And with fearless campaigner Joanna Lumley leading the charge, there’s no stopping her. We salute you, Warrior Woman!

Joanna Lumley

Thanks to Joanna Lumley's high-profile campaign, all Gurkha veterans who served in the British Army before 1997 will now be allowed to settle in Britain

Every now and then there is a seismic shift in the way we view women in the public eye. If 2008 was the year of the simpering, teetering Wag – and thank goodness her moment is over – then 2009 has brought a new breed of much older, far wiser woman; independent, strong, unapologetic.

Maybe it’s because of the new world order and a new face at the White House; maybe it’s because of the change in values prompted by the credit crunch, but something is afoot. Women of substance of a certain age are, all of a sudden, very much in our
faces. And it feels rather wonderful.

At the forefront of the new vanguard is the Boadicea of the 21st century: 63-year-old Joanna Lumley, Gurkha campaigner extraordinaire. As beautiful as she is intelligent, Joanna seems to have proven overnight that along with her enviable genes, poise and chic, she possesses a fearless fighting spirit – one that has had the entire government running for cover. With her crisp diction and her no-nonsense language (try saying this slowly and seductively: ‘There is a gap in communications inside government’), Joanna has shown the true mettle of this new feminine breed. Make way for Warrior Woman.

To be a true Warrior Woman (WW) you need to have lived a bit and survived a few knocks. You do not suffer fools, nor do you have the time to entertain petty personal insecurities. WW’s status comes from substance over style. What she may have left behind in youthful vitality she makes up for in grace and passion. This revolutionary brigade led by Generalissima Lumley is an awesome bunch.

Take Marianne Faithfull, indomitable at 62, railing against the ‘vampiric’ Kate Moss for stealing her signature style, and currently on a world tour to promote her new album. Or Joan Collins, 76, multiple-husband survivor, diva incarnate and, latterly, dispenser of worldly wisdom and unexpectedly self-deprecating humour. And Linda Evans, 66, the people’s choice for Hell’s Kitchen, gentle and graceful, but with a core of steel.

Then there’s Helen Mirren, 63, outspoken, scarily hard-working and unexpectedly fabulous in a bikini. And what about Barbara Hulanicki, 72, the ultimate fashion survivor whose latest Biba-influenced collection sold out at Topshop last month within minutes?

Michelle Obama
Linda Evans
Marianne Faithfull

The Front Line: (from left) First Lady Michelle Obama stands beside, not behind, her president husband; actress Linda Evans won over the nation with her graceful but steely attitude on Hell’s Kitchen and singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull has never been afraid to make her voice heard

WW only gets better with age. But you don’t have to be nearing retirement to qualify. In the lieutenant ranks is Meryl Streep, 60 this year and redefining box-office rules with Mamma Mia! Then we have Annie Lennox, 54, who has proved an empathetic, inspiring campaigner and a survivor of personal tragedy (her first child was stillborn).

The ultimate proud-to-be-single woman Kylie Minogue, 41, came back stronger than ever after her brush with cancer and romantic disappointment, yet with a humility and charm that will always endear her to her many fans.

Unlike the Wag of old, WW is not defined by the man in her life. In fact, to qualify as a WW you do not need a man in your life at all. But Michelle Obama, 45 – a veritable crusader in a cropped cardigan – proves that a partnership, even with the president of the US, is no barrier to a woman’s warrior status. Ms Obama is the ultimate proof that you can have a powerful man in your life and absolutely not be defined by him.

The problem with the outdated Wag tendency was that it was resolutely man-centric and shamelessly image-conscious. The Wag was defined by her looks, her dependency on her man and her ability to spend his dosh. (With the possible exception of Cheryl Cole – personal worth £10 million – who has denounced footballers’ wives as ‘just as bad as benefit scroungers’.)

What’s refreshing about WW is that she believes in herself and not just in the way she looks – although she usually looks pretty good – and certainly hasn’t compromised her femininity along the way. She has passions and ideals. She fights for causes she believes in – even if they are not particularly glamorous ones.

Annie Lennox
Helen Mirren
Barbara Hulanicki

Outspoken and Fearless: (from left) Campaigning singer Annie Lennox, actress Helen Mirren and designer Barbara Hulanicki

For all their charitable deeds, would-be saints Madonna and Angelina are just too ego-tastic to qualify as Warrior Women: their efforts seem largely designed to satisfy their own needs rather than improve things for anyone else. Which can’t be said about Joanna Lumley’s selfless Gurkha campaign. WW values intellect and justice over image.

She is also inspiringly fearless in the face of ageing. ‘Finally we’re beginning to move away from the idea of women disappearing from view once they hit 40,’ says Katherine Rake of the gender equality campaign group the Fawcett Society. ‘There has been a definite shift. We are now seeing this generation of strong women who have been economically independent their whole lives, who have fought to have their voices heard and who are not about to give that up in later life. It really is something to be celebrated and it sets the tone for others.’

Keren Smedley, a consultant with Experience Matters and author of Who’s That Woman in the Mirror: The Art of Ageing Gracefully, says: ‘Older women have changed. They don’t feel old in the way that our parents did when they were in their 50s. We don’t see ourselves as heading towards the end of the line. We think we’re at the height of our lives and we still have lots and lots to do.’ 

'These women have fought to have their voices heard and are not about to give that up'

Until recently it was assumed that when you got to a certain age you should disappear. Joan Bakewell, 76, currently the government’s champion of the elderly, complained earlier this year that we don’t see enough older women’s faces: ‘Older women tell me they feel invisible. And they are invisible on TV.’ Indeed. Remember television’s shameful exclusion of Selina Scott and Moira Stuart? Keren adds: ‘Warrior Woman only gets more vocal if she feels sidelined. These women are not going quietly. And that is the beginning of a huge change in society.’

What’s even more encouraging about this new breed is that it has never been just a celebrity thing. It wasn’t easy to pretend to be a Wag in real life (who’d want to?). But WW is everywhere around us: she’s the mother who takes on the council to get a zebra crossing in the right place; who thinks nothing of raising thousands of pounds to buy a new school minibus; she’s the glamorous battleaxe campaigning against her local bypass.

The popularity and profile of both Camila Batmanghelidjh, 45, founder of the charity Kids Company, and of Shami Chakrabarti, 39, director of pressure group Liberty, proves that we’re ready to celebrate the achievements of women who have stuck their necks out and done something not necessarily fashionable but hugely important for the future of our society. They remind us that there is a modern equivalent to the old-fashioned idea of matriarchy – and that it’s a power that is awesomely productive when harnessed.

Having a WW challenge the PM (and making him look rather weedy) is inspiring. Set that woman alongside the White House WW and we are talking world domination. Katherine Rake adds: ‘The moment I felt everything change was with the speech Michelle Obama gave at an inner city girls’ school in London, where she said, “I thought being smart was cooler than anything in the world.” It felt like the birth of real girl power – it’s woman power.’

Even better, it was fighting talk. Bring it on, Warriors!

Are you or is anyone you know a Warrior Woman? Tell us why by adding your comments below

 

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