Poster from 2006 Cascades student poster session.The social impact of the Red Hat Society is twofold: first, the “disorganization” is grounded solely in the belief that women over 50 have too long been ignored by society…hence the outrageous hats, boas and colors that accompany a Red Hat outing (Cooper, 2004). The sheer number of “Red Hatters” worldwide has turned a whimsical social group into a thriving brand name complete with licensed products, conventions, and a line of romance novels! The popularity of the Red Hat Society should not surprise us, knowing what we do about the demography of older women and how much they rely on their friends for social support. Therefore, the Society is providing essential socialization for older women who thrive on the benefits that friendship provides, especially as they age (and are often widowed).