In Hollywood, there is this undeniable pressure on women to look young. Some people can’t stand to watch older actresses age naturally, their wrinkles and smile lines getting deeper. Meanwhile, there are significantly more older male leading roles than older women leading roles in the industry. This is a shameful double standard that ultimately negatively impacts how all women see themselves.
Aging is a normal process. However, in society, getting older, specifically for women, is frowned upon. This further places pressure on actresses to consider getting work done to prevent further signs of aging. Women are often no longer looked at as attractive as they age and while still being seen as a sellout if they do choose to get work done. But why is this double standard still prominent in the industry today? English teacher Michelle D’Antoni believes the inequalities Hollywood stars have to deal with stems from beauty standards placed on women.
“For a long time, media industries prioritized youth when it came to female characters. Part of it comes from traditional beauty standards and expectations about aging, especially for women. Older men are often still cast as leading characters, while older women are less visible in those same types of roles,” D’Antoni said. “That’s slowly improving, but it reflects long-standing ideas about aging and what audiences expect to see. It’s important that the media continues to broaden representation in general so that all people can see themselves reflected in meaningful ways.”
Youth is something just about everybody chases. People want to stay in their “prime” for as long as they can, and the lengths actors will go to pursue that is insane. But when you look at how women are treated for allowing themselves to age and truly show that they’ve lived their life, it becomes understandable why a lot of them feel like it’s a necessity. Men rarely experience the need for a change.
“It shows a standard where men are seen as more interesting and are praised for aging,” Wilson said. “Women are commonly picked apart by the media for showing any sign of aging or difference in appearance. Women are clearly held to a different standard than men, and that is showcased in the media daily.”
Freshman Sherling Alfaro believes that changes need to be made within casting itself.
“They should be more diverse with their pickings for characters and roles regardless whether it’s a woman or a man,” Alfaro said.
Similarly, Sophomore Olivia Wilson has observed the double standard women experience for aging, which does not reflect what she would like to actually see in media.
“Most directors assume that people would rather watch younger, more attractive women than older, which is completely untrue and is again just something from the male perspective,” Wilson said.
Hypocritical Hollywood
Women are judged for blowing their hard earned money on surgeries, but they’ll also deal with a lot of backlash for embracing their untouched face. Either way, they can’t win. At the end of the day, it seems like both the media and the Hollywood industry aren’t satisfied with women once their youth fades. It’s lamenting and it’s something we as a society need to push past.
Brooke Shields has spoken out about the hate she’s received as she has aged. People have come to her defense that she’s simply not a teenager in the 80s anymore. Some people still can’t come to terms with that. Pamela Anderson was another person who got discovered because of her beauty, and it led her to getting acting and modeling gigs.
Three decades later, Pamela Anderson has resorted to embracing her natural appearance following the death of her makeup artist, Alexis Vogel in 2019. Although she received grace for it, a handful of people still bashed her for it. In contrast, male actors are called silver foxes and praised for aging. They get credit for appearing distinguished and wise. All of a sudden, the idea of wrinkles and grey hair doesn’t seem so bad to the media. Two time Oscar winner Brad Pitt is one of many male stars who people respected as he has been growing older. Rather than criticizing his anti-aging choices, he was admired and basically put on a pedestal for his decision.
Beauty is Pain
There isn’t an issue with having cosmetic procedures done. People should have the ability to do what makes them happy. In this day and age, our technology is only improving; our doctors are only getting better.
“I don’t mind it,” Alfaro said. “It’s their own life, plus they get to decide what to do with their physical appearance. I believe if they can afford it, and if that would help them feel comfortable and confident in themselves, that’s all that matters to me.”
“I think that women should be able to do whatever they want as long as it makes them happy,” Wilson stated. “There’s nothing wrong with getting cosmetic surgery; maybe for a boost of confidence or to fix something that is bothering them. The only time I think it sort of bothers me is when women do to appease men and for the male gaze. I think that women should do things for themselves and not for men. But at the end of the day it is up to the person and it is their body their choice.”
Possibly getting excessive work done can also work against you. It can lead to botched surgeries, like filler migration and “pillow face” which is a term many Hollywood stars, both male and female, have suffered from. “Pillow face” is used when someone has a lot of filler or botox that has broken down with time. The goal is to reduce signs of aging and thinning skin. However, using botox to the point where you can’t even make facial expressions takes away the art of acting and expression. It’s another reason why older women are ostracized by the media.
When I see people in Hollywood feel pressured to keep a certain “youngful” image so they stay in the limelight without repercussions, it breaks my heart. There isn’t a problem with getting work done as a way to boost your confidence; doing it for the approval of others is where I draw the line.
