The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

[MrsK]

I am working my way through this excellent book written in 1990 and finding all sorts of intriguing connections between runaway consumerism and runaway social beauty standards that make women feel bad about themselves.  I didn't take any women study classes in college (back in the 90s when this book was big) and am now engaged in some interesting self-study. 

I began my frugality journey so that I could retire at 50 (in about 6 years) and that led me to researching beauty hacks as I found I was spending a large part of my budget on beauty products, hair appointments, facials, and even Botox.  Over the years I am pretty sure I have spent an obscene amount of money on my looks.  Beauty hacks revolutionized my thought process around the beauty industry and my mindless role as mega-consumer within it.  For example, I now wash my face with raw, organic honey and my skin has never looked better.  I have been having fun experimenting with olive oil, lemons, cream, apple cider vinegar and nutmeg--creating my own concoctions and learning a lot about myself, my skin and my body in the process.  Not to mention saving tons of money!

After a month or so into my beauty hack research (thank you Crunchy Betty!) I started to read different feminist works on why women like me have spent so much of our time and resources on our looks.  The Beauty Myth is the best book I have found on this topic.  Even though I have always thought of myself as intelligent (Masters degree) and a progressive thinker, I am beginning to see how deeply the social norms around beauty thinking have influenced my life. 

My goal is to be able to not only embrace aging, but to enjoy it.  I can't believe the shift already in my thinking in just a few months.  Consuming less is a very powerful practice and even more so (for me anyway) when it comes to consuming less beauty myth.  I want to spend the rest of this year getting more comfortable with myself just as I am and nurturing that.  Pretty cool.  :)

[ShortInSeattle]

Umm.. do you mean Naomi Wolf? :)

[riverffashion]

I loved this book.

[madame librarian]

I absolutely love this book.

[TrulyStashin]

I read TBM when it first came out.  I was finished my BA in Poli Sci with a minor in Women's Studies, so OF COURSE I read that book.  ;)  Loved it.

OP, I'm 46 so I'm close to your age.  I've had much the same experience, though I've never spent money on Botox or fillers.  Mostly because I didn't have it to spend. 

Here's a great interview with Frances McDormand in which she talks (a little bit) about getting older and beauty:  http://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/360183633/like-olive-kitteridge-actress-frances-mcdormand-was-tired-of-supporting-roles

Maybe we can collect some role models and great interviews on this thread?  Explode the Beauty Myth, just a bit?

[MrsK]

I read TBM when it first came out.  I was finished my BA in Poli Sci with a minor in Women's Studies, so OF COURSE I read that book.  ;)  Loved it.

OP, I'm 46 so I'm close to your age.  I've had much the same experience, though I've never spent money on Botox or fillers.  Mostly because I didn't have it to spend. 

Here's a great interview with Frances McDormand in which she talks (a little bit) about getting older and beauty:  http://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/360183633/like-olive-kitteridge-actress-frances-mcdormand-was-tired-of-supporting-roles

Maybe we can collect some role models and great interviews on this thread?  Explode the Beauty Myth, just a bit?

Thanks for the link! I now want to read the book Olive Kitteridge.  I was just thinking a little fiction after The Beauty Myth might be in order.
What a great interview.  I love when she says she is "a woman who is proud and more powerful than I was when I was younger. And I think that I carry that pride and power on my face and in my body."  Shivers.

My current role model is Catherine Deneuve who recently said "at a certain age, a women must choose between her ass and her face."  :)
And she also talks about how much she likes herself more as she ages. 

I'm in on exploding the Beauty Myth--think of all the money we could help people save!

[cerebus]

My wife and I were having a discussion about exactly these sorts of ideas this morning. All the members of her family spend a fortune and hours every day artificially defying their age, and to me it's completely pointless. If a woman is healthy and happy as she ages, it doesn't need enhancement, and beauty products are a huge waste of money. 

Frances McDormand was so good in that role, I loved how she allowed herself to be exposed more and more to the harsh light as she aged. One of the highlights of the year's TV for me.