Who am I to be ashamed of aging? | A Video Essay by Alythia

Summary

This video script addresses the societal pressures and internal struggles surrounding aging, particularly for women. The speaker, despite being young, reflects on the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media and the constant comparison it breeds. She shares personal experiences of feeling 'too young' or 'too old' and the journey to self-acceptance. The script advocates for rejecting toxic beauty messages, embracing the natural aging process, and celebrating the unique experiences that shape our individuality.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The speaker reflects on societal pressures around aging, particularly for women, and questions why they should feel ashamed of it.
• 👧 The speaker acknowledges being young but still feeling the impact of societal expectations about beauty and aging through interactions with others.
• 📈 The speaker discusses the unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media influencers and peers, which can lead to self-consciousness about one's appearance.
• 🤨 The speaker challenges the idea of feeling ashamed for natural signs of aging, like wrinkles, and instead sees them as a symbol of happiness and life experiences.
• 🧐 The speaker shares a personal realization that her initial reaction to a wrinkle was to consider cosmetic procedures, highlighting the internalized societal messages about youthfulness.
• 💆‍♀️ The speaker encourages a skincare routine but criticizes the extent to which social media promotes unhealthy, classist, and ageist beauty practices.
• 👗 The speaker talks about the struggle of navigating fashion and self-presentation, feeling judged for looking either too young or too old.
• 📱 The speaker recognizes the negative impact of social media on body image and self-worth, suggesting that it often leads to a constant comparison with others.
• 🚫 The speaker advises avoiding toxic social media content and focusing on self-care that includes rejecting harmful societal messages about beauty.
• 💪 The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and self-love, regardless of where one is in life's journey or how they compare to others.
• 🎨 The speaker concludes by celebrating the beauty of aging as a canvas that becomes more beautiful with each passing day, encouraging viewers to embrace the aging process.

Q & A

Why does the speaker feel the topic of aging has become prominent in their mind despite being young?

The speaker feels the topic of aging has become prominent due to interactions with girlfriends, relatives, and self-reflection, as well as the influence of social media influencers and societal beauty standards.

What is the speaker's initial reaction to discovering a tiny wrinkle on their forehead?

The speaker's initial reaction is to feel ashamed and think about Botox, even though they are too young for it, reflecting the societal pressure to look young.

How does the speaker reinterpret the meaning of the wrinkle they discovered?

The speaker reinterprets the wrinkle as a sign of happiness and a reminder of the joy they have experienced, turning a perceived flaw into a symbol of positivity.

What are some of the negative effects the speaker identifies with the promotion of elaborate and expensive skincare routines by social media influencers?

The negative effects include psychological impacts leading to constant worry about appearance, the promotion of products with ingredients unsuitable for certain ages, classism due to unaffordability for many, and ageism by tying self-worth to youthful looks.

How does the speaker describe the struggle of being perceived as 'too young' or 'too old'?

The speaker describes it as a constant struggle with societal expectations and judgments, leading to a confusing and negative self-image, especially during their school years.

What is the speaker's view on the impact of social media on body image and self-worth?

The speaker views social media as toxic, often causing body image dissatisfaction due to the superficial, airbrushed, and inaccurate portrayals of people, which leads to unhealthy comparisons.

What personal change did the speaker make regarding their social media use, and why?

The speaker stopped using Instagram actively for anything other than messaging colleagues, as it was causing them misery and negatively affecting their self-image.

How does the speaker encourage viewers to view aging and self-worth?

The speaker encourages viewers to see aging as a journey of growth, experience, and wisdom, and to define beauty on their own terms, accepting and loving themselves for who they are.

What is the speaker's advice on dealing with the negative impacts of social media?

The speaker advises recognizing toxic messages, rejecting them, and focusing on self-care that includes a healthy relationship with social media.

How does the speaker reflect on their past behavior and mindset regarding competition and self-worth?

The speaker reflects on their past behavior as being influenced by a competitive and harmful mindset, where they felt the need to be better and win, which they now recognize as a mistake.

What is the speaker's final message to the viewers about self-acceptance and aging?

The speaker's final message is an encouragement for viewers to accept and love themselves, including their flaws and imperfections, and to embrace the beauty of aging as a natural process of life.