Gender double standards once again reappeared in the mainstream media over the chatter of Renée Zellweger’s new “look.” Gossip magazines speculated the cause of the drastic change in the beloved “Bridget Jones” actress as she walked the red carpet last week.
Guesses regarding her facial change ranged from radical plastic surgery to the obvious culprit — age. Zellweger, 45, is no longer the young sweetheart she portrayed in her laundry list of chick flicks, and the media will not let her forget that fact of nature.
Regardless of whether Zellweger received some aid in the form of plastic surgery, it is not our place as the public to judge. It is hard enough for people to accept the ramifications of aging, let alone to do so in the public eye. The insensitivity towards Zellweger speaks volumes to our inability to find beauty in women over the age of 30.
However, we do not reject the aging bodies of a man. When we look at George Clooney, 53, and Brad Pitt, 50, society does not demand an explanation of their advancing age, yet we do this to women all the time. While Clooney and Pitt are continuously applauded on remaining studs even into their 50s, we are offended at the sight of a woman who is five to eight years their junior.
Men in the public eye are scot-free from criticism and are praised for their age, rather than condemned as women are. Although I agree that we should appreciate the beauty in men accompanied with age, the same courtesy should be extended to women. The current double standards based on women’s age that is perpetrated in society has led to extreme attempts by women to remain young, as Zellweger obviously sought to do.
Zellweger was forced to go on the defense and explain her sudden change in appearance — but why? She attributed the change to “healthy living” and now leading a happier life. If that is the truth I wish her the very best, but plastic surgery evidently also played a role in this major change, and she should not be ashamed. Botox and whatever other cocktail of plastic surgery Zellweger partook in is merely a reflection of our expectations of women in society. Without the flawless and wrinkle-free skin that only appears naturally on a 20-year-old, we cannot appreciate their beauty; Zellweger fell victim to the unrealistic expectations of women.
When Zellweger attempted to conform with the society’s standard of beauty, her attempts backfired in the highly publicized red carpet appearance. Women are damned if they do, damned if they don’t in receiving plastic surgery. If they do, we mock the radical change as the media has the last week in Zellweger’s case. An equally nasty alternative is the criticism of every wrinkle as Hillary Clinton experienced in the 2008 primary elections.
Age is inevitable, and women should not fear the prospect of losing sex appeal upon leaving their 20s. The harsh judgement of Zellweger and her new look is a case study in the continuous degradation of aging women in society.
Reach the columnist at jemeyer3@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @JordanElizaM
Editor’s note: The opinions presented in this column are the author’s and do not imply any endorsement from The State Press or its editors.
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