Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles: body transgressions and older women's strategic clothing choices

After reading the article, I think the women who were interviewed expressed conflicting societal pressures for aging women to live by. While our society values a youthful appearance, aging women are encouraged to not dress too youthful. For example, the author reported that many of the study participants felt that women of a certain age should not wear clothes of bright colors or bare their arms. I think of Michelle Obama and all the attention her bare arms have received.

Many of the study participants expressed a loss of choices and control in the way they dressed. While part of the blame should go to clothing designers not thinking about the needs of older women, the study participants expressed that they cared what society thinks of them, too. They felt it is important for them to cover up signs of their own aging rather than to embrace it. For instance, many of the study participants expressed that they have to cover up extra weight gain or have to wear pants to cover up varicose veins or swelling in their legs. I empathized with the study participant who expressed she makes sure she looks nice when her family visits, so they don't worry about her or heaven forbid think she needs more help. I hope clothing designers will start thinking more of older women as the baby boomers age.

I had a client once who was in her seventies and was stigmatized by the way she dressed. Multiple times I heard ageist comments not only by her peers, but also by some of the staff who worked with me. According to them, she wore her shorts a little too short and heels a little too high. However, if you saw pictures of her when she was in her youth, you would notice that she was fit, beautiful, and a talented dancer.  She is simply dressing as she always has. Why hasn't she succumbed to societal pressures to "dress her age?" Does she still feel "youthful" inside and dress like she feels? Does she care what others think about the way she dresses? It appears that she is respected less because of the way she dressed.

Personally, I had to laugh as I'm just a little under 40, I'm already experiencing the pressure to look young while looking "age-appropriate" from my peers and society. A friend recently told me, "At our age we are supposed to go shorter and lighter with our hair." After reading this article, was my friend encouraging me to look younger or to look more age-appropriate or maybe both? I'm not sure?

Due to science and consumer demand, women today have more options to remain "youthful" compared to cohorts before us. Again, I was bombarded by some of these options as I was recently sitting in my doctor's office. My doctor recently stopped delivering babies and is now as she said, "helping women with other areas of their life." This help includes mineral makeup to cover the signs of aging, botox, laser hair reduction, and dermal fillers. As if I didn't already feel vulnerable sitting in my little gown, I sat there staring at multiple posters advertising these quick and expensive treatments to help me retain my "youthful" look. I have to admit that I left there a little depressed and thought about getting a new doctor. I'm also left wondering if older women who can afford treatments to retain their "youthful" look are less stigmatized when they dress in a more youthful style?




If they want to try to reduce the signs of aging and can afford it, I say go for it. I understand the societal pressures to look your best, and in our society that means looking youthful.

The women of the baby boom cohort have done my cohort of women a lot of favors. I only hope that they help change society's view on aging women. My hope is that when society starts to think of me as an older woman that I am not swayed to spend my savings on cosmetic procedures and that I will feel comfortable showing off my aging arms that are ready to hold my grandchildren. As one study participant said so beautifully, "I think as you age your values change from things to people." I hope my values can be more like hers and I'm not stigmatized by an ageist society that continues to value youth.

Clarke, L., Griffin, M., K. (2009). Bat wings, bunions, and turkey wattles: body transgressions and older women's strategic clothing choices. Aging and Society, 29, 709-726

Beginning Quote

"There's no point in being unhappy about growing older. Just think of the millions who have been denied the privilege." Cary Grant (1904-1986) English-born Hollywood film star