An Era of Anti-Wrinkling: Ageism or Age Resistance?

The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women
In a recent article featured in the Times Online- “Girl frozen in time may hold key to ageing” made us question, so why is growing older such a pivotal issue for women and today’s society? In an age of anti-wrinkling products, Botox, and now, gene manipulation; is society trying to avoid inevitable mortality? Such research will be the focus of a conference at the Royal Society in London this week to be attended by some of the world’s leading age researchers.

The girl in question is Brooke Greenberg, a 17-year old; but at 16lb in weight and just 30in tall, she is still the size of a one-year-old. According to Richard Walker, a professor at the University of the South Florida School of Medicine, Greenberg has a mutation in the genes that control her ageing and development so that she appears to have been frozen in time. “If we can compare her genome to the normal version then we might be able to find those genes and see exactly what they do and how to control them.” I think people have forgotten a key point in this case. Why would one ‘mutate’ a healthy gene to achieve beauty? After all, age is unavoidable, unless we stop breathing.

Eline Slagboom, professor of molecular epidemiology at Leiden University, Holland tells us that “Such people simply age slower than the rest of us... their skin is better, they have less risk of diseases of old age like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension and their ability to metabolise lipids and other nutrients is better.” It is rather telling that her first mention of this therapy relates to changing superficially rather than the health benefits.

Although Brooke Greenberg has shown some development, including crawling, smiling and giggling when tickled but she has never learnt to speak and still has her infant teeth. And even more so, she has also suffered a succession of life-threatening health problems, including strokes, seizures, ulcers and breathing difficulties — almost as if she were growing old despite not growing up. So how does this mutation help society if she still suffers the health effects of ageing?

‘The Beauty Myth’ by Naomi Wolf, questions the idea of ageing as a form of control. Wolf argues that beauty is the "last, best belief system that keeps male dominance intact". She states that anti-ageing is a key marketing strategy for cosmetic surgery — namely, classifying ageing as ugly, and ugliness as a disease for which cosmetic surgery practitioners had the most effective treatment. Wolf also questioned whether such exploitation of women's insecurities about their appearance was "subject to the ethics of the genuine medical profession". Subsequently, it is important to ask if there are no apparent health benefits from mutating genes, then why is there such a problem with ‘growing old gracefully?’

DYING TO BE BEAUTIFUL

Teenagers are seen to be different species all by themselves. But after all the tantrums, hoodies and spending: they do need some guidance which the media fails to provide.

Receiving hospitalization for being too thin after years of being name-called ‘chubby’ as a child; this was the last straw. I frankly feel that if I officially became the public’s property, I would be dead by one or the other, let alone unhappy. In the words of my fellow teenagers- It’s so unfair.

The ever-increasing superficial world that we exist in leads us to complex decision- making when it comes to appearance. Obesity, pictured as repulsive while women with a BMI of less then 18 are considered ‘unhealthy.’ What are we trying to portray to youths who avidly follow the so-called transformation of the fashion and consumer industries? Who are we to control the optimum level of perfection in people’s lives?

From the hour-glass figure of the 1950s, to the drug induced models of the 1960s, it seems that the fashion enterprise has not been able to shake off the ‘skinny’ look throughout the years. But are we encouraging youths to gain weight or slim down; worse still, with drugs? With the introduction of banning ‘fatty’ product advertisements, as well as petite size ‘zero’ clothing-it seems to be heading towards one vital point; an imminent death from eating disorders.

After recent incidents of models starving to death, I honestly thought is being anorexic thin or obese just labels for this season simply like wearing a red or grey skirt? Although fashion marvel Giorgio Armani refutes the idea of skinny models, it is difficult to see actual implementations. After the highly popular series ‘Make me a Supermodel,’ adjudicator Rachel Hunter declined a finalist for being a larger model, contradicting recent comments from the fashion world.

This is what we teach to already very confused and hormonal teenagers, beauty before health and happiness. A period of their growing lives wasted on watching social corruption exposed throughout the media. Flung in an ASBO, and we have fate worse then hell for these poor creatures. We have to encourage young people to remain healthy internally rather then looking fantastic on the outside. It is rather pointless if we have a life expectancy of only 30 years.

In the wise words of Roman philosopher; “We live not according to reason, but according to fashion.” It has been thousands of years since Seneca said his famous words- I think it is time we moved on.