How women are demonized for aging while men are celebrated.

Graphic by Megan Serfontein, Copy/Multimedia Editor

Megan Serfontein, Copy/Multimedia Editor

The anti-aging industry is worth $60 billion dollars and estimates project it to skyrocket to $120 billion dollars by 2030. The products, advertisements, and overall messaging target mostly women. Aging has become seen as a mark of failure for women rather than a natural progression that impacts everyone.

Myths about anti-aging are often perpetuated on social media and portray this process in a negative light. A viral TikTok from the user NP.Miranda explains that she got Botox (a cosmetic medicine injected into muscles to improve the look of wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines) at 21 and suffered ridicule for it, but she doesn’t care since now at 29, she has no wrinkles. This is ridiculous, since 29 is only 38% of the average lifespan of a woman, yet she acts as though she is ancient. Not to mention, having wrinkles is very rare for 29-year-olds, anyways. And even more recently, Daily Loud News tweeted pictures of actress Hillary Duff from a recent photoshoot with Women’s Health Australia, focusing on her age stating, “Hillary Duff still looking great at age 35,”. Again, acting as if 35 is a colossal age for women. This is the message that the anti-aging industry is weaving into everyday society-- that women need to start early with anti-aging measures before they are over the hill of beauty at 25.

However, men do not receive this same vitriol hate of aging. Of all 7,437,378 Botox injections given in 2018, only 6% were to men. Men do not receive the same message that they need to stop the natural process of aging. Instead, its that they will become more desirable with age. In contrast with those of Duff, GQ Magazine praises 61-year-old George Clooney as a “great-looking silver fox”. Men at average retirement age, are hailed for their appearances while women, many of who aren’t even mid-aged, receive criticism for not looking like teenagers.

Men also hugely contribute to the insecurities of women when it comes to aging. A study from Dataclysm found that men from their 20s all the way to their 50s find women in their 20s most attractive. With women it is a linear progression-- as they get older so do the men they find attractive. Leonardo Di Caprio and his “drop them as soon as the smoke from their 25th birthday candles has faded” policy is the exact proof of this. It is hard to not buy into the anti-aging industry’s propaganda when even your partner no longer considers you the most attractive you could be.

And it’s not no harm no foul, that women who want to use these products and get Botox should be able to without judgment. Actually, many of these anti-aging products are more dangerous than aging could ever be. Anti-aging creams can cause severe skin irritation including swelling, blisters, and rashes that could possibly last for weeks to months. But it could be far worse. Dr. Sam Epstein, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, said that a popular ingredient in anti-aging creams called alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA) could cause several different types of cancer. Botox can also have adverse side effects; there are a few that are normal and cause minor problems that last a few hours to weeks at most like pain, bruising, and/or eye dryness. However, there are also main long-term side effects possible like vision issues, bladder control loss, and/or even trouble breathing. Are the risks really worth it, for a treatment that lasts 3-4 months?

Aging is a natural and beautiful process of life; it shows that you have lived. No one should make anyone feel ashamed or embarrassed for aging. It is a process that everyone experiences throughout their lives. Women should not have to fix themselves for the societal image of what women should look like; young women should look young and older women should look their age. Aging is wonderful and aging is natural.