The Everyday Ageism Project: Fashion Media Neglects Older People

The Everyday Ageism Project

The Everyday Ageism Project aims to capture people’s everyday experiences of ageism. Research by EURAGE shows that across the European region, ageism is the most commonly experienced form of prejudice, yet relatively little is known about how it is experienced, who experiences it and the situations which may leave people vulnerable to age discrimination.

By providing a safe forum for people to anonymously share their experiences, the project aims to understand the consequences of ageism and the ways that age discrimination can affect people’s everyday lives. We also wish to encourage people to share their stories to show that ageism does exist and that it is a valid problem worth discussing.

Click here to submit your experience of ageism.

Monday, 3 March 2014

Fashion Media Neglects Older People

“They're really missing a trick - older women are just as interested in fashion”

This occurs anytime I read any of the high-end glossy fashion magazines.

I object to the lack of older women in the fashion shoots in the high-end glossy magazines. We might be in an article about generations (mothers & daughters) or the decades (women in their 40s, 50s, 60s etc) or a feature on an iconic woman. But never in the fashion shoots. I am not asking for fashion shoots to be all pastel & shades of grey but we should be included. Because ageing is normal.

I also object to anti-ageing articles illustrated by smooth skinned 30-yr-olds! They're really missing a trick - older women are just as interested in fashion as any 30-yr-old. Apparently 65+ age group buy the least copies of high-end magazines - one wonders why!

[This made me feel…] Irritated and exasperated. You see a lot of women think they're ageing at 50 or even when they're just 60 but that is still young - you're still looking back at your working life. It's when you approach 70 that you begin to think, oh yes.... So now my perception changed - and you say to yourself, yes, I am ageing, and this absence in the fashion media exacerbates the feeling that we just disappear. So, I'm not going to though!