Mohamad Safa@mhdksafa: This is a side by side of two women gracing the front covers

[BeckyDem]

Link to tweet

Excerpt:

There seems to be an unwritten rule which equates beauty with youngness. In an interview, Martha Stewart told the reporter she credits her organic, home-grown, farm-to-table eating, yoga, and actively healthy lifestyle to her youthfulness. While that’s an admirable journey for her, let’s not forget the amount of privilege that kind of lifestyle requires.

On the left is Apo Whang-Od, who is a 106-year-old tribal tattooist in the Philippines. The wisdom she carries in every forehead wrinkle and frown line is stunning. Her eyes are glass, reflecting back all that she’s witnessed over a century of lived experiences. Her tattoos a reminder of the ancestors she seeks to honor.

Both women are beautiful in their own right. But I wish we as women didn’t play into this idea that we have to look younger—and thinner—in order to fit some unrealistic beauty standard which will grant us acceptance and relevance in the world around us.

I’m writing this for any woman who, like me, may have had a punched-gut reaction to seeing an octogenarian in a swimsuit on the cover of a magazine looking more like a woman in her forties or fifties: Anti-aging is not a beauty standard.

There IS beauty in wrinkles, and saggy skin, and drooping breasts. These are markers of a life hard fought for and well lived. It seems odd to try and erase these battle scars.

So while I applaud Martha for her fortunate body, carefully curated procedures, and pristinely styled makeup, I also applaud Whang-Od for what others may perceive as imperfections.

Anti-aging is not a beauty standard.
Authenticity is.

@ FeministNews













( This speaks to the heart of the issue for me, and why I believe it is important to recognize external pressures from society at large.)

Btw, if the group leaders don't approve of twitter posts in general, just let me know and I'll remove it.

[niyad]

1. Thank you for sharing those images. I was astounded when I first saw

the Vogue image, but had no way to post it. And had heard about the Martha Stewart cover, but not seen it.

The excerpt does indeed speak to the forces at work around women and how they "should" look. I just got the book, "Women Don't Owe You Pretty", have not started it yet.

[BeckyDem]

2. You're most welcome.

That book sounds great and I love when these subjects are explored...it gives all of us an opportunity to grow.

[Walleye]

3. I'm a 74-year-old woman, and anyone in the baby boom generation knows what we went through

I do not want to cover my wrinkles I feel I earned every one. I am getting pretty tired of arthritis pain though. Thanks for posting

[BeckyDem]

4. My pleasure.

I have earned mine too. I do wish there was a means to tackle pain like yours....all the best to you, it can't be easy to deal with.

[Native]

5. Wonderful post, and much appreciated.

[snowybirdie]

6. Thank you

This eloquently says what I've been thinking. Why does Martha have to sexualized and air brush herself to be considered beautiful? What's wrong with a lovely smart 81 year old woman naturally?

[brer cat]

7. K&R

[3catwoman3]

8. I'll take the picture on the left, thanks.