Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Week 9 EOC: For Those Who Think Young

Being young is an obsession of every single female in the United States. It is the selling point of most products today from makeup and skin care products to the foods we are told are good for us. Women and men alike spend thousands of dollars on keeping themselves looking and feeling young. Plastic surgery is a huge, booming industry based solely on people’s desires to look their best, and their best is generally considered young. A models career is over when she’s 30 because the younger girls are always going to be more popular when it comes to fashion. The youth obsession is slowly creeping into the land of men as well. There are more and more products created by the same companies who cater to women’s desire for youth releasing products that are formulated to get rid of wrinkles for men. It’s never been as much of a problem for men, growing older that is. Men are considered “sophisticated” when they get older. Think of George Clooney. Women become less desirable and are told they have to keep their youth for as long as possible in order to be considered attractive in society. The double standard has haunted women forever, but today there are even special surgical procedures for men to look younger. Companies play on this vanity that exists in every aspect of popular media. The television shows that are the most popular have young, hot actors and actresses in them. The most famous celebrities are those that are young and sexy. They are given the best roles in movies and have the most opportunities. As a 26 year old, I already use products that advertising tells me will keep me younger longer. Night creams, sunscreen, day creams...all of these products are marketed on the “young” factor because that’s what sells.

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