Here’s a fun fact: The average age of people on this planet is increasing, year after year. This is because overall, life expectancy is getting longer and the birth rate is declining.
In fact, currently Western cultures like Europe and North America have the highest share of older people (above 65) across the entire planet. And women tend to live longer than men, so in these Western cultures, there is actually a greater share of older women than anywhere in the world.1
So on this planet, where the population is aging, and particularly, the number of older women is on the rise, why oh why do we keep shaming women for simply… getting older, when the obvious truth is getting older (living longer) is a privilege?
Patriarchy
In a patriarchal society, a woman’s worth is generally determined by how young, beautiful, and fertile she is. Research shows that in patriarchal cultures, women tend to be ignored sexually, romantically, and in the workforce as they age, while men can get away with being called “silver foxes.”2
The Media
Much of the media we see puts value on young, hot women (re: patriarchy). If older women do remain in Hollywood (a rarity, according to the research3) they often portray stereotypical characters like moms, grandmothers, or affable supporting roles. Older men in the media can be “distinguished” but older women, “diminished in erotic appeal.”4
The Beauty Industry
It is widely documented that businesses in the beauty industry intentionally promote unattainable beauty standards, highly focused on youthful characteristics and (thin) body types.5 Products in this realm include skincare, cosmetics, haircare, plastic surgery, and personal care products and as of 2023, made up a $570 billion industry worldwide.6
In this excellent podcast episode, Patriarchy in the Beauty Industry, host Amy Allebest drops this truth bomb: “They are not getting women to spend as much money on floor wax or microwaves anymore, so they have to make us feel insecure about our bodies, our faces, our hair, all of this stuff. And that has continued unabated in the decades since it was written. They’re just exploiting our insecurities.”7
Aging Healthily: An Act of Rebellion
So now that we know some of the reasons behind our culture’s attitude toward aging, we hope that you can see that aging itself isn’t the problem; in fact, it’s one of life’s greatest privileges. It means we’re living.
The problem is a culture that insists we continue to look like we did when we were 22. And one of the greatest acts of rebellion in a world that tells us how to look and how to be– is to simply live and enjoy a long and healthy life.
A 55-year-old that still runs marathons; a 60-year-old who powerlifts; a 66-year-old who still rocks a bikini; a 70-year-old who hikes and does yoga; a 92-year-old who still has the energy to chase her grandkids and salsa dance.
These little vignettes are small acts of rebellion– they are women who refuse to give up on living.
And in order to do that, we need to prioritize health, especially as we get older: Eating for health and longevity (rather than just looks), exercising for agility and strength (rather than thinness), and focusing on community for our mental health and wellbeing.
MENO Healthy Aging Powder
No matter how much healthy eating, exercising, and laughing with friends we do, estrogen is still going to decline for women as we get older. This decrease can lead to things like weaker bones, decreased muscle mass, joint pain, and changes in hair and skin.
For those looking for a supplement that can help with these symptoms, O Positiv’s latest fudge-flavored MENO Healthy Aging Powder can be a solid option. With ingredients like whey protein and collagen types I and III, it supports maintaining muscle mass, healthy skin, and joints; its probiotics help support a healthy digestive tract and vagina; and its blend of vitamins K, calcium, biotin, and other essential nutrients gives bones, hair, skin, and the immune system the boost they need as we age.
After all, we live in a world that is getting older. Why not support this growing population by helping them age healthily– rather than solely focus on the looks of it all?
