Hello women over fourty. Should we not have to right not to want to be like some skinny pin-up model?

Question

Men are not pressurised to be slim. Men do not spend a half an hour in the bathroom putting on some srtificial mask of makeup in case the world does not approve of the real them.

Women over forty, unite. Stand up for the young women coming up behind us. Wash off the gunk, stop living on rabbit food and celebrate your individuallity.

God made you beautiful. Lets stand up for the right to be ourselves

Answer 1

I'm 33 and I very rarely wear make-up, I don't live on rabbit food and I've celebrated my indivisuality since I was old enough to know what it meant! :-)

Answer 2

Why is this specifically addressed to women over forty? Unfortunately the pressures don't stop as soon as you hit the big four zero. If anything they get worse, we are still expected to be slim and the mask takes longer to perfect. While the older man greying at the temples with a few lines is described as distinguished / interesting, grey hair & wrinkles on women are most definitely not considered attractive

Answer 3

I'm a man of 28 and to be honest, women over 40 are far more attractive than most of the younger women. The natural, curvy look is a real turn on. Give me Fern Brittain over Fern Cotton anyday.

Answer 4

Depends how you perceive youself! I am actually over 50 but still like to look good. I weigh a little more than I did at 40 but thats because being too slim at this age can actually make you look haggard, and I don't fancy that look! I often don't wear make up - but my skin is fine, so I don't need to worry about it! I do however still take good care of it.

And of course we are all beautiful - but I like inner beauty best! Thats ALWAYS there, whether we wear make up or not!!

Answer 5

I agree We should look the way WE want to look not the way we are expected to look and I believe if we have got our health then that is better than suffering with the lettuce leafs (if there was a pill that would make me a skinny model I would be first in line) but until then I will be happy with the size I am - more the voluptuous woman.

Answer 6

Have you been under a rock? No one is telling you to wear make-up and no one is telling you to look a certain way.

You must approve of yourself before you can expect others to "approve" of you.

As for eating "rabbit food", I eat healthy food and I eat sensibly, I also run marathons and lift weights and wear make-up to flatter my complexion and I wear what I enjoy wearing and what I feel comfortable wearing.

Just because ONE woman has suddenly woken up to the fact that SHE is the only one in her own head doesn't make the rest of us "pressurised" to be slim or whatever.

I am slim because I exercise and I would never refer to good, healthy food as "rabbit food".

It sounds to me like you've been listening to men tell you how to be - the clue is your use of the term "rabbit food". That is a term often used by men to try to convince women to eat junk.

I like being slim, I like wearing make-up to highlight my features and the only person I am is me.

YOU have always had the right to be yourself so congratulations, you've found the rest of us.

Answer 7

well, Im over 50 and I wouldnt not spend time doing my hair, putting on a little makeup and trying to make myself look nice. Not just for myself but for my husband and children, they dont want to be looking at a wife and mum as though Id just got out of bed!!!
I am an individual, we all are, I dont live on rabbit food, but im not 20 stone either, nor am i a model figure but Im happy with trying to still look after myself, and I think women of all ages should.
I do not like to see older women looking like mutton dressed up as lamb.

Answer 8

i agree totally. I never follow fashion, i eat healthily but not faddy just to be slim, i am an individual and dont follow the "in" crowd, whoever they are meant to be. I use my own mind and dont bow down to magazine/tv pressure to be a skinny, follow-the-crowd model. I dress to be comfortable, not because the latest fashion dictates how i dress. I dont bother with these mags that tell us women how we should be. i am not overweight, nor ugly, nor dressed badly. I am 43 and i am ME.

Answer 9

It is genetically wired into us to avoid age - age= death. Animals choose young, healthy mates.

The difference with humans is we can fake it.

Choose to avoid the faking, but remember that the desire to be/have youth is a natural one. To deny that is actually as 'fake' as what you are angry about.

Also, have you ever considered that some older women are naturally slender and younger looking without diets and make up? That is their 'right', as you put it. If you are angry with them, it has more to do with your body image than them. People who live well tend not to balloon and tend to have better skin.

Answer 10

Whilst i totally agree with you on most of your mail, try buying decent fairly fashionable clothes if you are not stick thin. Clothes sizing in this country is a nightmare, and how many times do you see bigger women, and i use that term loosely in women's mags, almost never.