The last acceptable 'ism'

The last acceptable ‘ism’ is an exhibition of modern quilts by women artists confronting one of the few remaining forms of prejudice that is still openly expressed, joked about and dismissed – ageism. While overt racism, sexism and homophobia face appropriate social and institutional condemnation, age-based assumptions remain deeply embedded in everyday life. Older people – particularly older women – are routinely rendered invisible, their contributions undervalued, and their voices diminished. As women, we are frequently encouraged to take up less space, be less demanding, be agreeable and avoid drawing attention to ourselves. The result is a culture where older women are expected to quietly disappear just as we have accumulated decades of experience, knowledge and creative authority. Ageism continues to shape women’s experiences across many areas of life, from workplaces where older employees are overlooked; to housing security where older women are more vulnerable to homelessness; to the media where ageing is framed as something to conceal or correct rather than a natural part of life. The arts are not immune. After centuries of art history dominated by men, institutions are rightly expanding whose voices are recognised and whose stories are centred. Yet women continue to be underrepresented across collections, exhibitions and leadership, with older women artists facing the additional barrier of ageism and assumptions about the value of their work. While quilts are historically associated with women’s labour, storytelling and domestic spaces, these works are not nostalgic celebrations of a domestic handcraft. Instead, this exhibition is an act of refusal. Refusal to disappear. Refusal to become invisible. Refusal to accept that age diminishes creativity or relevance.