1. She can. A woman can still care about herself, as a woman in her 50s, and that counts for something. We are not others’ assessment of us.
2. Sure, she may have less societal value — but if that value is based on superficial bullshit like youth or beauty, what was it even worth to begin with? I’d rather get less attention and “care” if that care is couched in and dependent on my looks.
3. Incidentally: if she’s less “cared about” at 50, she was probably never truly “cared about” at all.

“We” are not our youth. “We” are not our looks, or beauty, or body.

Sure, older women may get less “care,” but if that’s the case then it means the “care” younger women are getting is total horse shit. And sure, yeah, maybe I speak from a place of privilege when I say this, but I’m also into my 30s, which means I’m not the idealized early-20s, and because this isn’t a dick-measuring contest of “whoever’s older gets final say,” that gives me some street cred.

I’m not saying we need to take this up with society — we can’t — but we can definitely take it up with ourselves. We can develop a sense of self worth based on more meaningful things, and surround ourselves with people who agree, and care about us in ways that are actually caring.