Silver Threads and Golden Needles

We're fundraising for our project, Golden Threads and Silver Needles, that aims to shine a light on gendered ageism.

We've all heard the sayings, 'over the hill', 'mutton dressed as lamb', 'cougar', 'past it', 'old dear'. Our project works with older women to workshop these phrases aimed at women’s looks and usefulness and to empower women to challenge these comments with strong and powerful counter messages.

Family violence is in the headlines right now, and we are seeing some long overdue commitment to change. A recent article in the Saturday Paper Editorial, The Misogyny Killings, identified 25 women who have been murdered already in 2024. This included 7 women over the age of 60. Sadly we rarely see the faces of these older women in the media, they seem to not be mourned the same way as younger women.

Why is this? We know that one in eight older Australians will experience elder abuse in their lifetimes, often from family members or trusted friends or community members. The World Health Organisation identifies ageism as one of the key drivers of elder abuse, this intersects with gender inequality meaning women experience higher rates of elder abuse. We think it’s because older women are facing two battles - a lack of respect for women, and a lack of respect for older people.

Silver Threads and Golden Needles tackles negative messaging through our crafting circles, where participants design throw cushions with their choice of ageist messaging on one side and a strong counter message on the other side. For example, ‘battle-axe’ becomes ‘warrior’. The workshops also provide an opportunity for us to discuss the impact of gendered ageism and how we can push back against it.

We will be taking professional photographs of the women with their cushions in their own homes (where most family violence and elder abuse occurs) and exhibiting the photos as part of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). The cushions and photographs will then feature at the National Elder Abuse Conference, Turn Up The Volume, in Adelaide in July.

To date the project has received support and financial contributions from local community health services to cover craft materials, photography, and our launch event in June. But we are short on funds for the printing and mounting of the portrait photographs, and the cost of facilitation.

This project is, like the older women in our lives, one of a kind. Many of the women involved in the project have already noticed change. One member of a knitting group that has been going for 40 years was prompted to talk to her grandchildren about the eye rolling and sighing she experiences when she asks for help using technology from her family.

The project will be evaluated, and we hope that it can grow from a grassroots community project to a funded project that can be delivered across Australia.

Your support for this project will help amplify women’s voices at a time where this is sorely needed, and will provide your organisation with an opportunity to reach new, vibrant community audiences.

Please contact Lee Archer on 0432 469959 or for [email redacted] for further information.