Why, in this day and age, are we bombarded on a daily basis with advertisements for anti-aging products aimed almost exclusively at women? We are constantly pressured to: Look young. “Wow! It’s great that you’re 47, but only because you look 25 and you’re a stunning, hot model.” Be obsessed with anti-aging. Oh, apparently having young-looking skin and a… Continue Reading →
“You look too young to be a 51-year-old!”: Unhealthy beauty standards at the White House
Recently, the unquestionably accomplished First Lady Michelle Obama spoke to a group of children in the East Room of the White House for Take-Our-Daughters-And-Sons-To-Work Day. Few people are better representatives of hard work than Ms. Obama, and, as one could reasonably expect, she was direct about the effort she put into achieving success. Ms. Obama… Continue Reading →
Old is the New Fat
Once upon a time (until a few minutes ago), there was no greater shame or punishment in our culture than being fat. Kids as young as three were worrying their cute little heads about it, scholars were chronicling how unjustly fat people are treated in powerful books like Fat Shame: Stigma and the Fat Body… Continue Reading →
Mature models show the beauty of aging
Word of the day: “Gerascophobia.” It is commonly defined as the abnormal and persistent fear of growing old or aging. Also known as modern American culture. It’s no secret that the media idolizes youth. As women age, Botox, plastic surgery, and a generous dose of Photoshop are purported as the recipe for immortality. If you’re… Continue Reading →
No More: a high schooler’s perspective on More magazine’s treatment of middle-aged women
I have a confession: I’m eighteen, and I read More magazine. Every month, I get a glimpse into what it means to be a woman over the age of forty in American society. Recently, I overheard a saying: “Men age, women rot.” This phrase encapsulates the message that More sends its readers. It’s the reason that… Continue Reading →
About Face doc: Want to hate yourself? Try modeling.
“I don’t think there’s any 15-year-old girl that will turn down the chance to be called beautiful. You don’t realize at that point that you’re also going to get called ugly,” says Paulina Porizkova, talking about being discovered as a model, about halfway through the new documentary film About Face (no relation to this blog… Continue Reading →
Yves Saint Laurent sells hope in a jar with Forever Young Liberator
Women don’t really fall for the outrageous claims of beauty products… do they? You know that saying “There’s truth in humor”? Well, it’s never been more accurate than in the hilarious send-up that positions Adobe Photoshop’s technology as a fancy, Euro (“by Adobé”) beauty product. What’s so great about the spoof (as further detailed in this… Continue Reading →
What’s age (and weight) got to do with the Oscars?
Admit it, you would have dropped the f-bomb too. After winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at Sunday’s Academy Awards, Melissa Leo blurted out the expletive, along with a slew of more G-rated words of gratitude. Yet no one can seem to let Leo off the hook for last month’s self-promotional “Consider” ads she personally paid for… Continue Reading →
Buy your tween anti-aging products at Wal-Mart
Finally! A cure for those prepubescent fine lines and wrinkles! Yes, seriously. Hoping to officially crush the innocence of childhood, Wal-Mart has rolled out a line of anti-aging cosmetics geared toward 8- to 12-year-olds. The “youth preserving” line is called “Geo-Girl” and has 69 products ranging from exfoliators (to scrub off those gross, dead, OLD… Continue Reading →