The Age Police are at it again, and this time they set their sights on singer Dolly Parton, who performed in a recreation of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders costume at the team’s Thanksgiving game. Despite her age, the 77-year-old dared to wear itty-bitty shorts and a low-cut royal blue shirt baring her midriff over a sheer, sparkly bodysuit and tights. Although she charmed the crowd, her outfit sparked quite the controversy.
Parton asked the audience, “How do you like my outfit?” before performing fan favorites like “Jolene” and “9 to 5″ while swaying and walking on the stage. Throughout her set, the Dallas Morning News speculated about technical glitches and highlighted Parton’s provocative outfit as the main topic of conversation.
Despite her immense popularity, Parton’s look generated backlash, with people expressing disgust at her choice of attire. However, critics of the outfit were soon met with a formidable defense. Chelsea Handler released a video defending Parton while praising her charitable work. Whoopi Goldberg and Christie Brinkley also came to her defense, with the latter stating that Parton is more than just a number.
This uproar isn’t just about an outfit; it’s a sign of societal ageism that attempts to make older women invisible. Leading fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen explains that if numerous messages continue to dictate how women should look at a certain age, people will inevitably be influenced by these norms.
Dolly Parton’s controversial outfit reflects a larger, societal issue concerning the value of older women. Thankfully, public figures like Pamela Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Martha Stewart are also defying traditional expectations of aging, shifting the narrative about older women in society. Despite the challenging road ahead, many post-menopausal women are celebrating their age and supporting each other, slowly dismantling the pervasive societal narrative. Age is just a number, and these women are proving it.
