Resistance to physical decay and the desire to keep youthful looks are not new in human history. Today, however, anti-aging discourse intensifies the longing to reshape one's body and stop the ravages of time. Aging is often portrayed as a personal accountability, a sign of moral responsibility, and even disease, which affects older women disproportionately. In order to adjust to contemporary beauty standards, many older women decide to undergo various rejuvenation procedures. However, few studies on the outcomes of such cosmetic interventions in relation to aging, acceptance and self-perception exist. This article addresses American writer Erica Jong's concerns about the aging body and surgical anti-aging interventions. As spokeswoman of the American post-war generation, the author shows how facial rejuvenation procedures generate conflicting feelings, and reminds her readers that older women continue to be doubly marginalized in today's youth- and beauty-driven society.
Keywords: Aging; Body; Cosmetic surgery; Cultural and literary gerontology; Gender; Women.
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