Women are not allowed to grey in “public” 🤨

Earlier this year, someone said to me, “Your window is closing.” I paused, felt the weight of their words, and wondered—what window? The window of opportunity, success, love, or creativity? The assumption that a woman’s worth, ability, and visibility have an expiration date has always lingered like a shadow. And apparently, for some, the moment we start to grey, that window begins to close.

But this idea—that women have a limited window to be relevant, attractive, and successful—is rooted in a society that refuses to let us grey in public. Men age and gain wisdom, power, and respect. They grey and are called distinguished. Women, however, are told to conceal their grey hairs, cover their wrinkles, and fight the natural process of aging as if it’s something to be ashamed of. But why?

I am not ashamed. I’ve lived, I’ve grown, I’ve loved, and I’ve created. And that’s precisely why my album, CIVIL WRITES, is so important to me. It’s not just a collection of poems or stories—it’s a reflection of the many lives I’ve lived, the battles I’ve fought, and the lessons I’ve learned. This album is about survival, resilience, and the right to take up space, no matter our age, our scars, or our grey hairs.

Civil Writes tells stories of transcending boundaries, of a Black girl becoming a woman, finding her voice, and refusing to be silenced. In the same way, I refuse to be erased simply because I am getting older. If my window is closing, it’s only because I’m building a new house with as many windows as I want. There is no expiration on creativity, on growth, or on making a difference. We, as women, continue to evolve, to learn, and to impact the world in ways that matter.

The idea that women are only valuable within a certain timeframe is archaic. My life’s work, my art, and my journey didn’t peak at 25, 35, or even 45. I am more than a number, and my worth is not tied to a “window.” My album CIVIL WRITES is a declaration that I am still here, still creating, still relevant. I’m not just surviving—I’m thriving, and I’ll keep doing so long after society’s supposed window has closed.

So, to every woman reading this who has been told she’s running out of time, that her beauty or value is diminishing, I want you to know: You are still in your prime. Your worth is not defined by your age, your wrinkles, or your greying hair. Your window is not closing—it’s transforming into something far more powerful than anyone could have predicted. We are not meant to shrink; we are meant to expand.

Let the world see your wisdom, your resilience, and your growth. Let your grey shine as a testament to the life you’ve lived and the life you’re still living. We deserve to grey in public, to show the world that we are still here, still rising, still making our mark.

The truth is, there is no window. There is only you and the world you are continuously creating, one powerful moment at a time.

Keep creating, keep living, and keep rising.

Your best days are ahead of you.

Love, Bethsheba