60 years ago I was a candy striper in a local hospital. It was very noticeable that elderly women were treated very differently than elderly men. The women were ignored. It was terrible to watch.
I’ve seen that. The old ladies end up figuring things out for themselves. In another time they would have been called witches.
Why do you suppose the elderly women were ignored when the men were not? Could it be that women usually outlive their spouse and the husband was not there to advocate for her?