Skin Cream
Yes, that's a very literal title for this post. And it may seem a tad weird, but it came across my mind that I had this question regarding age and the fear of aging.
I was checking out my favorite show, reruns of Law and Order, and in the span of the one hour show, there were all these commercials for skin creams, and anti-aging concoctions. I've seen quite a few of those commercials over the last couple of days, and it got me to wondering: are Americans so obsessed with age that at every turn, we have to smother ourselves with salves, and creams, and emulsions?
The sad part is that it seems to be women that are on the receiving end of all these insinuations that their youth is what makes them sexy, or attractive?
What's the difference between American women and say, French women, who consistently see themselves as attractive and sexy, far into their, according to Americans, elderly years? I'm just curious...
Is it the desire to reinvent oneself that is propelling this urge to look 20 years old, or is it a lack of understand that from age comes wisdom, and with clean living, most people age quite nicely in appearance, becoming more distinguished?
I'd love a counter-point from a reader that can explain this phenomenon as they see it.
I was checking out my favorite show, reruns of Law and Order, and in the span of the one hour show, there were all these commercials for skin creams, and anti-aging concoctions. I've seen quite a few of those commercials over the last couple of days, and it got me to wondering: are Americans so obsessed with age that at every turn, we have to smother ourselves with salves, and creams, and emulsions?
The sad part is that it seems to be women that are on the receiving end of all these insinuations that their youth is what makes them sexy, or attractive?
What's the difference between American women and say, French women, who consistently see themselves as attractive and sexy, far into their, according to Americans, elderly years? I'm just curious...
Is it the desire to reinvent oneself that is propelling this urge to look 20 years old, or is it a lack of understand that from age comes wisdom, and with clean living, most people age quite nicely in appearance, becoming more distinguished?
I'd love a counter-point from a reader that can explain this phenomenon as they see it.
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I wouldn't quite call it a phenomenon. There has always been a stigma on aging: wrinkles, bone breaks, lowered stamina, declining sex drive, increase in mortal illnesses... Compare that to the virility and verge that youth embodies... age is the curse. Why explorer searched new worlds for the fountain of youth. And even though you may instinctively put this obsessive burden on women, men's plastic surgeries are skyrocketing, more men's "beauty" products are on the market than ever, including male spa treatments, and the billion dollar pharma industry of male sexual enhancement. We are living longer than ever, and we really don't know how to handle these longer days... More folks need a hobby.
In other cultures, experience and age is revered. See our Asian brothers and sisters, and the insistence on filial piety (reverence for the experience and wisdom of one's parents and ancestors), and African tribal worship of the wisdom of elders.
Loot at contemporary European cultures, where -- particularly in France -- the recent candidate for president, Ségolène Royal is considered to be hella sexy at nearly 55 years of age, no spring chicken by American standards. Or a Catherine Deneuve, who at 65, is the standard for French beauty.
Here, there seems to be a selective emphasis on youth, biased against the women folk. As Chris Rock would say, it's driving down the value of the p***y.
You're right that there has been some increased emphasis on male youth and "virility" -- mainly here in this country. While men's plastic surgeries might be on the rise, I'd bet that most of them are for enlargement of "that special place," to quote a commercial I hear a lot on XM Radio, not for facelifts and tummy tucks. Also, big pharma is capitalizing on male ED, which is caused not so much by old age, but by and large by poor diet (leading to diabetes and high blood pressure, the two leading causes of ED), which fits their habit of fixing the resultant symptoms, while avoiding the root cause.
Despite all of that, older men are still desired for the power they convey and the perceived sexual prowess they possess vis-a-vis their younger counterparts. As an "almost old guy," I'm quite happy that this is still true. :)
We are living longer than ever, this is true. And it is also true that we might be unprepared for the effects of such lengthened life spans.
I just find it interesting that other cultures don't seem to frown so much on aging, and its effects on beauty and attractiveness, as it appears ours does.
IMO its about values. In America, I think we value immediate gratification and quick fixes. I also think we don't take enough time to really understand our individual selves. If we did, then I expect we would find value in what we have to offer as we age. To often we feel we are worthless if we don't reflect all we see in todays media. To me that suggests that media plays too much of a role in how we assess our own worth and that drives the creams, the weaves, the drugs, the procedures that make us notwant to accept what God gave us. Of course in many situations these tool can make sense. However in most, I think they serve as bandaids for bigger inadequacies. I don't think you see this in other parts of the world because the influence of media is far less and because, frankly,worrying about one's appearance is a luxury.