Ageism in the media is holding us back 

Stereotypes about women’s aging have affected all age groups of womanhood in Hollywood 

Abla Gorashi, Writer

A woman putting face cream on her face.

Photo Credit:Ross Lach (Pixels)

When PageSix released highlights on the Met Gala 2025, they complimented 42-year-old Anne Hathaway by saying she 

“Anne Hathaway looked half her age at the 2025 Met Gala after recently sparking plastic surgery rumors”.Women are often complimented on their age, but the praise usually focuses on how young they look, rather than on valuing their age itself. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, “Gender Differences in Attitudes Toward Aging and Its Longitudinal Impact on Psychological Health conducted by Eun Young Choi, Yujin Franco, and Elizabeth Zelinski, their research focused on the psychological impact of ageism when to comes to different genders. 

Because the media often celebrates women who look younger than their age, the media often advertises anti-aging products to women, regarding anti-aging products that get rid of wrinkles. Commercials portray the unattainable beauty standard of a “youthful glow” in female products. For example, when an influencer or a celebrity is talked about on social media, people often criticize their looks by criticizing why this woman doesn’t look her age, emphasizing that she appears older than her age she is. They also compliment them by saying how young she looks for their age. Both common commentaries on women aging can affect women in different ways.

Anti-aging creams and ageism don’t just affect women in the media; they can also affect girls as young as the age of ten. The constant portrayal of aging as bad sets a beauty standard that leaves women feeling like they’ll be useless or ugly after a certain age. Whether it’s to feel pretty or attractive, to achieve something, to attract someone, or look for compliments.. Wrinkles are a natural phenomenon that happens as we age. The media seems to be the problem if we begin to lose our youthful appearance. Wrinkles are natural proof of aging, not something to be ashamed of. 

In an article from the Seattle Times, Jocelene Geller, Young girls are using anti-aging products they see on social media. The harm is more than skin deep | The Seattle Times, Geller interviewed a young girl named Scarlett Goddart, a preteen who was affected by using anti-aging products that were targeted towards adults.

Scarlett began to use facial cleansers that were not suitable for her skin, due to her consumption of media containing ageist rhetoric. The article mentions one reason young girls use anti-aging products on themselves: a media trend that fantasizes about having dewy and flawless skin. 

Based purely on the media Scarlett was consuming, she developed a skin routine that was not meant for her more delicate skin. The use of these products that were marketed directly to her caused her skin to blister and burn. Scarlett explained her reasoning for using these products, “I didn’t want to get wrinkles and look old. If I had known my life would be affected by this, I would never have put these things on my face.”

The majority of these trends are all over TikTok and YouTube. The article mentioned that experts identify this issue as common for young girls across the country. Due to this misuse of products, many of these young girls experience harsh side effects such as rashes and burns all over their faces. 

Ageism criticism exists in many job boards as well. For example, most companies don’t take women seriously if they seem to “show their age” by viewing them as too “weak” for the job. Overall, ageism doesn’t just affect insecurities but also financial stability.

Ageism affects all types of media outlets, whether it’s television, commercials, or even journalism, by focusing more on women’s appearances than their accomplishments.