AIBU to ask where the characters like me are?

[drspouse]

I'm in my 50s and have one teen and one preteen. Both have SEN though only DS is in specialist school, DD has just started at a small mainstream secondary. I'm a professional near the top of my career and not thinking of retiring, though physically I'm slower than I was, partly due to a serious injury a couple of years ago. I still go on bike rides and camping with the DCs though.

I am a big reader and fond of a TV drama. I feel like all the main female characters in everything I watch or read are either 20/30 something and Full Of Life and So Enthusiastic or else are retired and slow, little old lady type. The odd middle aged professional character is ruthless and/or single/childless.

AIBU to want to see characters who are actually a bit like me in age and occupation? I mean I'm not even asking for main characters who have DCs with SEN, that would be greedy wouldn't it?

Happy Valley? Keeping Faith? Amandaland?

Love Happy Valley! She's definitely a strong professional woman with complex family.
I find Amandaland a bit on the knuckle because of her toxic mum but I get your point.

Did you see Mare or Easton with Kate Winslet? That’s another great one

Did you watch Ludwig? Anna Maxwell Martin's role is pretty good.

I thought you were on about characters in real life. The west country used to be full of people just slightly off centre. We had a lady who came in to the bank i worked in an sang to us. The bunch of alcoholics who sat in our park and gave us swigs of cider at half time...but anyone mess with us they'd have battered them. The bloke in the pub who we called captain Morgan. Machine gun Kelly, the little Irish guy who smoked senior service. The big transvestite on roller skates in Bristol city centre..real characters who made life interesting

I am again baffled by people cramming everything into AIBU as a catchall.
Why not ask in the television forum?

OP, how about 'There She Goes'?

You the AIBU police? 😆😆😆

And Just Like That?

The TV soaps, especially Coronation Street, have always had strong female characters, from all age groups.

Je ma’pelle agneta on Netflix. Absolutely beautiful story about being still relevant as a 50 year oddish woman, I’ve never seen anything like it before x

Anything by Sally Wainwright

I'm asking about books too, as you'll see from my OP.

The Sex and the City follow up? Not my cup of tea I'm afraid. Not really into soaps either I'm afraid @JillyComeLately except The Archers.
@Teddypompom12 I have not heard of that - sounds great.

That’s fair enough, not everything is for everyone, but you can’t really complain that people like you aren’t represented then when people say “they are here” say “well I don’t watch that”.

YABU purely because what you're suggesting is the exception to the rule. As unfair/sad as it might be, it's just plain and boring. Most people want to escape when watching their fav TV shows.

I think it's because stories are usually about change and events and there are certain stages of life where you are just trying to hold everything steady. I have multiple small balls on the air, rather than one bigger, more interesting ball. That's the nature of books/films rather than this stage being less valuable.

I genuinely don't think this period of my life would make a good book or film (self help book maybe, the before section) and most of me peers are the same. I don't want the drama that would make it so, tbh!

I suppose that's true @SueKeeper - there are dramas about divorce, I suppose that's the most "exciting" thing we're supposed to do in our 50s!
I'm interested to hear suggestions of books too as I say where the inner life of the character is more prominent.
But it does seem as if the most exciting things in a woman's life take place when she's in her 20s or 30s, marriage and babies. Plus ca change...

Mrs Dalloway. Virginia Woolfs diaries.

Didn't you see Riot Women? That's completely focussed on 50-something women.

I did, and a PP was right to say look at shows by Sally Wainwright.
@Bonden I haven't read those, will definitely take a look.

I feel like there are a lot of tv dramas with Middle aged ladies bossing it. Suranne Jones comes to mind in Dr Foster, Gentleman Jack and the detective one. I liked Happy Valley too. As a comedy have you seen The Other One, it has a storyline following the mums and it’s quite funny.
Outlander also comes to mind, it starts with a youngish woman but she’s 50s or 60s in current season and an interesting character. I’ve learnt some historical context thanks to Outlander if I’m honest.

Currently sat watching the Primrose Railway Children (Jaqueline Wilson’s take on the railway children) with my DD and thinking what a wonderful mother character (mid 40s?) and also a lead character with autism. It’s a really nice film to watch with DC it’s on bbc.

I enjoyed Primrose Railway Children, haven't even thought about Outlander.
Looks like there are a few one off dramas (wish there were more series of Happy Valley but apparently there is going to be another Riot Women).
In books all I have so far is proper literature, which I do read but it's not very light!