Friday 24 September 2010

Ageism

Do you ever think about the fact that (and I can only speak for women here never having been a man) we spend the first part of our lives wanting to look and appear and be older and then we spend the rest of our lives wanting to look and appear and be younger?

And then it's don't look too young, that's inappropriate and grow into your age and embrace your wrinkles laugh lines and grey silver hair and be yourself, don't try to look younger anymore.

So I guess I'd like to ask the advertisers and the media and the rest of the people who tell us we're not ok how we are right now just how old you'd like us to be?

And when do you want us to make the switch from pretending to be older to fighting it?

And why does it matter?

10 comments:

Michael Colvin said...

I was on a train recently and catching 40 winks when I overheard some school kids say, "there's some spare seats over there by that old man." You guessed it they came and sat by me.

Yikes, I'm 47!!!

Just Sayin... said...

hahaha love it!
Then "they" wonder why women have self esteem issues, the media created it!!!

I"m 38, and due to having no children, and not being able to tan (hello spf 60) I look early 30's.

But I agree, even if you do look young you should always dress appropriate for your age. Otherwise put yourself at risk for being labelled a cougar.
(women in denial of their age thinking dating men twice their junior is ok).

Canadianbloggergirl said...

I for some reason have been fighting acne for the first time in my 30 years of living. So I go to the local pharmacy to see what's out there. Figure might as well get myself a whole new product from toner to moisturizer and everything in between. I was so incredibly lost. Anti eye, anti wrinkle, fillers, toners, astringent, cleansers, day/night cream, dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, microbeads, abrasion this or that...little hand held devises to rub the skin right off you. Tell me something, what is a 30 year old supposed to do? Especially one who has oily chin, dry forehead no wrinkles and also sensitive skin?

Media is totally at fault!

Just Sayin... said...

Canadianbloggergirl - I too have adult hormonal acne. I've simplified my cleaning regiment.

Wash face with soap and water twice a day. I use a moisturizer called.... Crap I'll have to get back to you on that. In addition I take amoxicillin for 3 months at a time, and a retinol topical cream once a night.

Seems like a lot but it's not and its clearing my face, chest, back and chin up nicely, without any side effects.

Hope that helps. I"ll update from home with the name of the moisturizer I use. Its great for people with dry or sensitive skin due to medication etc, It's about $35 a bottle and is HUGE. I buy it once a year.

Jonathan said...

I think there's far more pressure on women (pressure invented by the media, I might add) to look a certain way.

Celebrity culture doesn't help either, with all the "stars" seemingly going under the knife at the drop of a hat.

I can't really weigh in on this one with any opinion though, because I'm not the demographic that has to attract attention.

It's terrible really, isn't it - you wrote about this all recently - that conventions dictate that we should be in a relationship by a given time in our life, that we should have 2.4 children, a nuclear family unit, and we should be fit, and look like the airbrushed people on magazine covers.

It's all bollocks.

Victoria said...

Oh no Michael! Rotten children! ;)


J.S. they do wonder why we be alls messed ups! ;

It's so confusing in there CBG! Anti whosiwhatsits?

Bollocks indeed Jonathan!

Dominic said...

It matters because people who are happy with their appearance don't spend money on changing it. There's no profit to be made from self-confident people.

Victoria said...

Oooh, good point! Never thought of it that way!

Just Sayin... said...

CBG - The moisturizer from the line Avene. Here the link.
Most drug stores carry this line.
Good luck.

http://www.aveneusa.com/oily-skin/

Victoria said...

Cool, I'ma gonna check it out too!