Centre for Policy on Ageing



Beauty in later life — older women's perceptions of physical attractiveness
Author(s)	Laura C Hurd Clarke
Journal title	Canadian Journal on Aging, vol 21, no 3, Fall 2002
Pages	pp 429-442
Keywords	Older women ; Physical characteristics [elderly] ; Ageing process ; Attitude ; Social surveys ; Canada.
Annotation	Data from 96 hours of semi-structured interviews with women aged 61 to 92 are used to explore the meanings that older women attribute to beauty and ageing. The women in this Canadian study tend to equate physical attractiveness with youthfulness and slimness. However, they reject the extremes of thinness embodied in today's fashion models and actresses. Even as they disparage obese individuals, the women argue that thin older women appear scrawny. The women express a preference for more rounded female bodies than current beauty standards allow, and emphasise the importance of inner beauty. While some women view their wrinkles negatively, others suggest that their facial creases are badges of honour. The author argues that older women do not simply internalise beauty ideals to the detriment of their sense of self. Rather, they resist and challenge current ideals of feminine attractiveness and suggest alternative beauty ideals and definitions of personal desirability. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-021101226 A
Classmark	BD: BA: BG: DP: 3F: 7S
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing

...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.