Anti-aging and Successful Aging Flashcards
(35 cards)
What is anti-aging about?
- prevention through personal strategies
- cosmetics
What leads to variance in aging?
- genetic differences
Advancements in anti-aging science and tech from…
- biology and biochemist
- medicine helps demographic groups appear younger (based on looks)
- pros and cons
- appear younger
Nature vs Science
- structured social relations
- wealth-> only available to those who can afford it
- evidence-> less damage to our bodies
Embodiment
experiencing aging through the physical realities of our bodies
Symptoms of Aging (visible markers)
- Skin Wrinkles
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Vitality loss (not as energetic as before)
Programmed Theory
- aging comes with progressive atrophy of tissues and organs
- body’s failure to repair defects in DNA or protein molecules
- a biological timetable exists
Damage or Error Theory
- environmental assaults to organisms that induce cumulative damage at various levels as the cause of aging
- free-radical theory!
Framing Aging as a scientific discourse
- Finding causes of ageing – theories
- Gathering evidence of ageing – hypothesis testing
- Treating ageism as an ‘undesirable problem’ or even ‘disease’
- Viewing ageing as a ‘medical condition’ – medicalization of ageing
Medicalization of Aging
- Ageing has been perceived as a ‘disease’
- The ageing body as a site of ‘scientific investigation’
- Ageing as something that can be ‘cured’ Anti-ageing Discourse
- Diagnosis-> Potential Treatment ?
- Consumerism
What is Anti-aging Discourse?
Any discussion in which measures or steps are proposed to minimize, reverse and even prevent signs of aging
Other objectives of the anti-aging discourse
extending human lifespan (prolongevity)
Anti-aging is amplified through
media and celebrity culture
The power of narratives
- personal science anti-aging strategies
- scientific community
- ordinary people
- narratives matter
Anti-aging strategies
- Cosmetic – powder, makeup, paint, anti-wrinkle, botox, hair extensions
- Preventative– exercise, diet, diet or vitamin pills
- Compensatory – Viagra, designed to re-invigorate failing functions to a youthful state
Idealized version of getting older
- we all perceive aging differently
- anti-aging requires effort (gym, natural remedies, etc.)
Sanity or Obsession?
- anti-aging has become normalized
Are people losing their self and value in themselves?
- social media presentation of self
- mental health in old age
- inner beauty is important
Gender-specific or seen in both women and men?
- more perpetuated expectations for women to need to do something about aging
- some people don’t care about what they look like and are more concerned with feeling good
Western medicine sees science as…
- progress
- solution that will help people live longer
Western medicine sees human domination of nature as…
- success
- slowing down the process of aging
- potential to beat mother nature
Western medicine sees old age as…
- failure
Intersection of social class and anti-aging
- desirable to live longer
- widening the social inequality between the rich and the poor
- lack of access has an impact on anti-aging ability
Gender and anti-aging
- Sense of empowerment ?
- mental health with less choice
- Men and women (who is affected more?)
- women have a higher obsession with looking younger (objectified in media and sex work)
- used to empower women, damages sense of self, ideology, etc.
