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Growing old gracefully: age concealment and gender
1College of Education, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
Journal of Gerontology
|July 1, 1994
Summary
Women face harsher judgments regarding aging and age concealment compared to men. Despite this, individuals may still use these techniques while criticizing others for doing so.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Gerontology
- Sociology
Background:
- Societal perceptions of aging are often gendered.
- Aesthetic standards disproportionately affect women's aging process.
- The use of age concealment techniques is influenced by these societal pressures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between gender and perceptions of aging signs.
- To investigate the use of age concealment techniques across genders.
- To examine societal judgments regarding age concealment.
Main Methods:
- Anonymous questionnaire administered to 269 adults.
- Data collected on perceptions of aging signs and concealment behaviors.
- Analysis of gender differences in attitudes and practices.
Main Results:
- Aging is perceived as less attractive in women than in men.
- Women are more likely than men to expect and use age concealment techniques.
- Individuals who conceal their age face harsh judgment, despite personal willingness to use such techniques.
Conclusions:
- Evidence supports the existence of dual double standards in aging judgments.
- One standard reflects gendered differences in judging aging (judge and target).
- Another standard highlights a discrepancy between personal use and public judgment of age concealment.