Mirror, mirror on the wall, who looks the youngest of us all? An art-based autoethnographic inquiry on beauty, gender and ageism

Abstract

In contemporary society, marked by a prevalent emphasis on visual culture, there is a widespread desire to combat the effects of ageing, largely influenced by ageist media portrayals that idealise youthful bodies as the epitome of attractiveness and health. Faced with increased vulnerability due to ageism, sexism, classism and lookism, women often aspire to ‘eternal youth’ in line with societal norms and aesthetic standards. Centring on the body as it is presented externally, my research adopts a multifaceted approach, employing thorough ethnographic examinations with middle-aged Portuguese women in conjunction with art-based autoethnography. Through this analytical framework, I endeavour to elucidate the intersection of femininity and ageing juxtaposed against the youth-centric, predominantly male gaze prevalent in mainstream cultural contexts. By analysing societal and medical reflections on ageing and engageing in dialogue with women, I aim to unpack perceptions and anxieties around ageing. Anti-ageing messages often reinforce heteronormative beauty standards, dictating physical appearance and expectations of graceful ageing while neglecting underlying structural determinants. Examining anti-ageing practices reveals power dynamics, inequalities and forms of resistance that women encounter in response to ageing. Through anthropological inquiry, the study illuminates the interplay of societal structures, gendered expectations and individual agency in navigating ageing.