The motivations that lead people to undergo various types of interventions in order to erase or
moderate the signs of aging
are varied.
Appearing younger, feeling more attractive, having others perceive them that way, or going fully into the realm of subjectivity, simply, “feeling better about themselves.”
Now, this “need” does not arise from nowhere.
It is located in a context: discomfort with the physical signs of the passage of time is far from being a subjective fact, but rather seems to arise as a response to the omnipresent
paradigm of eternal youth
, which results in socially widespread and often discrimination. naturalized, which targets older people and is called oldism or ageism.
When analyzing how one thing is related to the other, that is, discrimination and the need to look younger, the results of a recently published study call into question whether “one thing implies the other.”
Trying to look younger
is not necessarily consistent
with being exempt from being or feeling discriminated against.
The study
The research, based on a national survey on healthy aging conducted by the University of Michigan and recently published in the journal
Psychology and Aging
, investigates the
complex relationship
that exists between appearance and the experience of aging in adults between 50 and 80 years old. .
Almost
60% of the people
surveyed in this study - carried out by a group of researchers from the University of Oklahoma - indicated that they look younger than other people their age.
35% said she looks similar to other people her age, and only 6% said she looks older.
Regarding efforts to look younger, 35% acknowledged investing time or money in such a task.
Does feeling younger or investing in that translate into less discrimination?
Although both those who look younger and those who invested resources to look younger were more likely to have greater positive experiences linked to age (such as feeling a strong sense of purpose or being associated with greater wisdom and therefore being sources of advice), they did
not The same thing happened
in both groups regarding negative experiences.
While those who felt younger than the rest were less likely to suffer negative experiences (such as being associated with difficulties seeing, hearing, remembering or using technology), a linear relationship
was not observed
for those who invested resources in achieving this.
Since middle age, many people feel socially excluded from various areas.
Photo Shutterstock.
In fact, the study says, those who had invested in strategies to be younger were more likely to score
higher
on the scale of negative experiences related to aging.
The study also analyzed the relationship between these groups' experience of aging with their self-reported health status (physical and mental).
The conclusion was that those who had higher levels of positive experiences around this stage of life, and lower levels of negative experiences, were more likely to say that
they enjoyed “good”
or “very good” health, both physically and mentally.
The motivations
Now, it could also be argued that those who invest in looking younger do not do it for others, but for themselves.
That is, not so that others see them “better” but to feel better.
Ricardo Iacub, doctor in Psychology and holder of the Psychology of the Third Age chair at the Faculty of Psychology of the UBA,
constantly deals
with these issues.
So much so that he recently demonstrated alongside several professors from various universities and national programs in repudiation of the statements of Chancellor Diana Mondino on Mirtha Legrand's program.
In a text made known to
Clarín
, they express their disagreement with this type of statements that entail “extended prejudices that seek to dehumanize, hurt and make invisible a sector of the population, not only restricting a resource such as credits, but arguing the limited amount of life and projects they have left.”
Investing time and money in looking younger does not mean that they will stop being discriminated against.
Photo Shutterstock.
In reference to the topic addressed by the study, and analyzing the possible causes why an elderly person may undergo interventions, the professional differentiates
three scenarios
.
“We usually see this in people who 'do some touch-ups', which they describe as light interventions in which, obviously, the proximity to certain representations of old age affects them, generating an annoyance, a feeling of
discomfort with themselves
,” he describes.
And he adds: “In many cases, we can find people in critical situations, whether
due to a separation
or a situation in which they do not feel good about themselves, they often go to surgeries.”
On the other hand, it analyzes that there is a kind of “naturalization” of these practices at a sociocultural level, to the point that they are even requested by very young people.
“Today we also have to think that surgery has become
something everyday
, as is the case with hyaluronic acid, which is being seen in people in their twenties, which is really shocking,” he analyzes.
Feeling good about yourself is more related to vitality and purpose.
Photo Shutterstock.
Even so, Iacub admits that these practices are seen more frequently in the middle and upper classes.
“There is a
continuous relationship
with surgery, as a way to feel better.
Many of these people achieve it and feel that it did them good, although there are also others who appear in a quasi-addictive situation in relation to bodily changes and are permanently planning some type of operation or intervention.”
Old age and discrimination: symbolic exclusion
Fernando Felice is an esthetician and plastic and reconstructive surgeon, so he
knows closely
the motivations of people who undergo aesthetic interventions.
According to their perspective, broadly speaking, this group can be divided into two: those who have always worried about makeup, exercise, nutrition, about their image - and now use these practices - and those who, on the other hand, do so because they they feel
symbolically excluded
from certain areas.
“This last group has never had invasive or surgical procedures linked to aesthetics, but
they feel socially displaced
or in a marginal situation, because from the age of 50 or 60 they are treated like elderly people,” he says.
There is a perception of old age as a more uncontrolled body, says Iacub.
Photo Shutterstock.
For all this, and because the way in which people feel in relation to their age is not intrinsically related to their appearance but rather to their
relationship with vitality
, it ensures that it is the duty of professionals to investigate the motivations in order to provide the best answer.
“There are those who were active and positive people when they were young, and when they grow up they still are, like a partner of mine who at 86 years old manages technology and is a
proactive person
, always thinking about generating.
And there are people who are 40 years old and complain about everything, and probably at 70 they are going to complain a lot more," he says and considers that rather than being an age issue, "it is a predisposition towards life."
Listening, according to his view, is key.
“If the professional dedicates time to them, he knows how to advise and guide them, not only from a medical point of view, but also regarding the modalities through which he can
generate this change
or direct his life, obviously the result will be positive.
The procedure performed will be positive and that person will be happy,” she explains.
And he contrasts: "Now, if the health professional simply dedicates himself to billing, as many do, and does not listen to what is being asked of him, the patient will feel that he wasted time, money and that he did not achieve the change I was looking for.
All changes for me
start from within
and that is what one has to understand when talking to a patient.”
Body control and estrangement from one's own body
Iacub conceives surgeries as one of the many forms that the
disciplining of bodies
takes , although he mentions others, such as what happens with the cult of the gym.
“Today's society leads us to think that youth appears as a more controlled body, and old age as a
more uncontrolled body
, on which people have to apply control disciplines, in order to model it,” he analyzes.
This happens, in his view, as many people approach middle age.
In old age, however, there is more acceptance.
“Between those in their forties and 60s we find the peak of this demand for transformation and this care in the face of bodily changes that to some extent make the person feel that
that body has become alien
,” he ponders based on the research that carried out in the doctorate.
In short, what occurs is a process that begins with a kind of estrangement from one's own body, conceiving the signs of old age as
something not one's own.
“What people consider to be their own, what is continuous, throughout life, is what has not aged too much: there are those who place it in the hands, others in the legs;
On the other hand, what becomes strange is what has
more signs of aging
”, he reflects.
"So what we can see is how this culture leads us to think that old age consists of the
incorporation of the strange
within oneself, which is curious and also dangerous, because in this way the person feels that they live in a body." that is not entirely his own”, he closes.
***
➪Do you have any questions about health and well-being that you would like us to address in the section notes?
Enter the Clarín Help Center by clicking here, enter
Message to the editorial staff
and then
Questions to Buena Vida
.
Write us your query and send.
Ready!
And if you want to receive the Buena Vida newsletter in your inbox every 15 days, subscribe here.