Getting old as a girl can really feel inconceivable. Generally it feels as if our price declines as our age rises. It undoubtedly does not assist that older girls are hardly ever represented in mainstream media.
Fortunately, illustration for lovely and trendy older women could be discovered on social media. Life in My 70s — a weblog and social media model run by Candace Lelie Cima — has been receiving consideration for her type and make-up hacks on mature pores and skin. For the reason that starting of 2020, Cima’s web page has blown up, now with 166,000 followers on Instagram and over 100 thousand followers on TikTok.
Cima began her account as a result of, on the time, she didn’t see any influencers who have been her age. As a baby, “I did not perceive the negativity related to growing older,” she shared in a video. “And truly, I’m previous now and I nonetheless don’t.”
Nevertheless, not everybody shares her constructive perspective.
The 76-year-old has just lately acquired plenty of criticism and physique shaming attributable to her age.
One in every of Cima’s most seen posts is a video of her making an attempt on a gown from Amazon, as she typically does. With nearly 700,000 views, she might have by no means imagined the response she would get from it, particularly on her Fb web page.
The feedback part was stuffed with disrespectful and hateful phrases.
“Not flattering in any respect. Would by no means put on alone. Too previous to be exhibiting all that pores and skin,” one person commented.
“Too previous to have your arms exhibiting,” one other wrote.
“I believe you’re slightly too mature for that gown,” a 3rd person commented. “You might be skinny and look good however you shouldn’t expose your arms and your shoulders.”
Even girls round Cima’s personal age have been giving her a tough time, commenting on her physique and pores and skin, claiming that she shouldn’t be sporting a gown that’s fitted and “for younger folks.”
Fortunately Cima does not appear to be letting the haters get to her, because the criticism didn’t cease her from posting her common content material on her every day schedule.
Cima’s video caught the eye of one other influencer who was unhappy to see the ‘grandma on grandma violence.’
Maggie Anders (@LibertyAnders), a content material creator together with her personal present on YouTube, tweeted about Cima’s remark part and the criticism she was getting about her physique. With the put up having over 13 million views, it introduced consciousness to Cima’s state of affairs and promptly unfold positivity within the feedback.
“The grandma on grandma violence on Fb is actual,” Anders wrote, “This girl seems to be unbelievable in her 70s and the entire feedback are older girls tearing her aside for her physique and outfit.”
Pushing out the hurtful feedback, folks swiftly wrote constructive messages as an alternative.
“Got here right here from Twitter — YOU LOOK STUNNING!” one individual commented.
“Makes me so unhappy to see that many ladies don’t age out of being so nasty and bitter to different girls,” one other person wrote. “You look AMAZING and don’t let these jealous folks allow you to assume in any other case!”
Afterward, Cima turned energetic within the feedback part, thanking everybody who was spreading positivity and supporting her by the powerful journey.
Sadly, this isn’t the one time girls have been attacked for the pure organic act of growing older.
In keeping with Psychology Right now, girls assault others in the event that they “worry, envy, jealousy, suspicion, resentment, rage, nervousness, or lack of shallowness and confidence.” Doubtless these girls wouldn’t be assured sufficient to put on a sleeveless gown themselves, so that they tear down girls like Cima who’re. This is not all that shocking, contemplating girls have been socialized from a younger age to see growing older as shameful.
In our society, it typically looks like girls aren’t allowed to age — or a minimum of present indicators of it. So many ladies inject Botox, cowl their grays and spend money on anti-aging skincare, with a view to “age gracefully.” Whereas these are legitimate decisions — and no girl needs to be shamed for doing what makes her really feel assured — nobody ought to really feel like they’ve to cover (or gown) their age both.
Lauren Reams is a author at YourTango who covers leisure and information.