Happy couple hugging on the beach and laughing

Am I too old to call my partner my 'boyfriend' at 50?

HELLO!'s Second Act columnist Rosie Green wonders whether she should be saying partner or significant other rather than boyfriend

By: Rosie Green

July 26, 2024Jul 26, 2024, 5:15 PM GMT+1

There's a long list of things society deems women shouldn't do post-30. Grow our hair past our shoulders, flash our legs in shorts, wear a bikini, go on wild nights out with girlfriends, possess carnal desires or, I'm going to add to this list, get a boyfriend.

By middle age, there is an unspoken pressure to retire all the above and start sporting ankle-grazing hemlines and ensure you are safely married off. Or, at the very least, in possession of a long-term 'partner.'

Perhaps I’m deeping here (if you are non-plussed at that word ask a Gen Z for clarification - I had to, it means overthinking) but I think the term boyfriend equals sexiness, fun and freedom and that presents a threat to the status quo.

Woman standing against a tree in short denim shorts and no shoes — At 50, society says we shouldn't wear shorts - Rosie doesn't agree!

Because it feels like the message that we are subliminally absorbing as a middle-aged woman is that it's our job to keep the fridge stocked and those around us cared for.

Which works brilliantly for everyone, except, well, us.

More from Rosie

So how does society keep this structure in place? By saying anything deviating from the above makes you look ridiculous. And all women have antennae finely tuned to that criticism.

Who wants to be laughed at, judged, gossiped about? I definitely don't, but I'm also rejecting old-fashioned ideas about what being this age looks like and so I am proud to say I am 50 and I have a boyfriend.

Rosie Green thinks the term 'boyfriend' is fun and sexy

Is 50 too old to say 'boyfriend'?

There are many other things I could call him and sometimes do.

Partner is the obvious one. It gives the relationship more gravitas than boyfriend does. (I mean, after all, you could have a boyfriend of one week or 25 years). Partner is useful in certain situations, like when you are desperate for the nurses to release you from hospital post-op, or to score a plus one to a wedding.

But to me, partner feels a little joyless. A little unsexy. Like we work together. Also, whilst our lives are intertwined and I am deeply committed to him, we don't share a house, children, goldfish or even a Tesco Club Card.

He could be my S.O. - significant other. Which I like but is not a term recognisable by every generation. Lover feels unnecessarily shocking and I'm not in the business of making octogenarians choke on their Alpen. Boyfriend is good.

Rosie Green journalist posing on porch wearing green floral skirt — Rosie Green is happy with the term 'boyfriend'

It feels upbeat, optimistic, exciting, fresh and a bit flirty. But really, what's clear is there isn't a perfect term. I quite like the Spanish 'media naranja' which literally translates literally to my 'half orange' but in reality means 'my soulmate' or 'sweetheart. Which in turn reminds me of 'main squeeze.' So retro. Maybe I’ll use that from now on. Perhaps just not on the hospital release form.

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HELLO! originally launched its Second Act hub to reframe midlife and beyond as a celebratory, exciting new chapter full of endless possibilities. From inspirational tales of women who refuse to fade into the background, to valuable advice on navigating relationships, finances and health issues – we've featured them all. And such has been the overwhelmingly positive response from readers, we are now turning the hub into a FULL and FREE community where women like you can come together to shape something truly inspiring.

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