Women, Bingo, and Little Old Ladies

While some, such as Keith Whyte, believe that times have changed, others are not so sure.  Keith Whyte says:  “Gambling has become much more normative in our culture, in our society, and in the media.  If there were taboos about women only playing bingo, they’ve been erased.”  Of course, nowadays, men do play bingo.

Statistics do still show, at least in online bingo games, however, that the percentage of women playing bingo is far higher than that of men.  The stereotype of women, and retired elderly women especially, has provided much humour and amusement amongst bingo players and others.

It is often thought that old folk staying in nursing homes do nothing the whole day, apart from playing bingo.  Of course, this may or may not be true, depending on the old folk, of course.

It does however remind one of the quote by Florence King:  “I’d rather rot on my own floor than be found by a bunch of bingo players in a nursing home.”  Bingo is often thought to be a game played entirely by little old women.  While the game is played by many old women, and many women who are not so old, it is also played by men, both young and old.

John B. Keane once said of Irish women:  “I think the Irish woman was freed from slavery by bingo.  They can go out now, dressed up, with their handbags and have a drink and play bingo.  And they deserve it.”

Dawn Wells also had her own thoughts about bingo playing old ladies.  There are those that want to retire and play bingo, and there are certainly those that have no desire to simply settle into a life of retirement and bingo playing.

Dawn Wells being one of the latter is known to have said:  “Just because a woman is over 50 does not mean she no longer has anything to offer.  If anything, we have so much more to offer!  We have lived life, we get better with age.  I do my best work now in my 60s.  Sure, I could retire; but what would I do?  Play bingo?  I think not!”

Loretta Weltz tells it like it is.  “It’s all about having fun”, she said “Some people sit in the bar, and we sit in the bingo hall.  She’s too old to line dance or I’d have her doing that.”

Betty Montgomery enjoys a game of bingo and notes that “[Playing scores of bingo games at once] is really exciting, … It’s good, clean fun in my old age.”

To sum up, Blaine Selva said “Eat, sleep and play bingo.”  What better way to pass the time could there be!

Written for Eyesdown Bingo by Greg.