My educated guess would be that it started in the early 20th century, and more specifically right after WWI, which gave birth to the fads and fashions of the 1920s.
Before that, youth and beauty were almost always used as a symbol for innocence. Even as late as the Victorian Era, young beautiful people, especially women, are a symbol of innocence, both about the ways of the world, and about harsher realities, such as disease and malnutrition. Their innocence is depicted as a kind of beauty in itself, and one that is all the more precious because it will undoubtedly fade very soon.
The post-WWI era is the first time that I have ever seen where there was a definite shift toward maintaining youth. For example, it's the first time I can think of when women's fashions really demanded young, almost sexless bodies. Full bosoms and hips, which had been in fashion just a generation ago were suddenly seen as undesirable, and undergarment manufacturers started marketing bindings for the breasts, not to shape them, but to make them disappear. Similarly, if you read mail order catalogs or magazines from the period, there is a definite shift to staying young, rather than re-capturing lost youth. Before that period, there were a lot of products marketed to both men and women which promised to restore youthful things, such as energy for women in menopause, or sexual function for aging men. Suddenly, there was an influx of products that promised eternal youth and beauty if you just used the right cream or took the right medicine. And again, in the books of that period, you see a shift from older people being honored for their age and wisdom to them being dismissed simply because they are old.
I think that the trend which started in the West in the 1920s just continued to grow as the century progressed. Unlike other fads, which come and go, that one stuck. If you even compare magazine print ads from say 1905 and 1945, you see a marked difference. In 1905 the respectable homemaker who was the target of ads for things in the home, such as housewares and appliances, was an older woman, and I would guess from looking at them that she was about 45 to 50 years old. By just after WWII, the very same types of ads showed women who were clearly much younger, with models who appeared to be in their early to mid 20s. I suspect part of it, in advertising, at least, was that the target audience in 1945 were men who were coming home from war, marrying, and settling into domestic life, and that was their age group, but I also think it's indicative of a larger cultural trend.
Even now, it continues. Have you noticed that advertising icons such as Aunt Jemima and Betty Crocker have become younger and younger? When I was a child in the 70s, the pictures of these women on packages of food showed older women with wrinkles and gray hair that clearly stated ';Trust me and my products, because I have experience';. Now, if you can find the older images and compare them to the newer ones, you see drawings of women who are significantly younger, and free from bothersome wrinkles and grays.
The saddest thing in all of this, for me, at least, is that what started out as a trend in the Western world is slowly but surely being exported, and has been for some time. I was reading recently that Asian women in Southern California are a huge source of income for plastic surgeons. Traditionally, light skin was highly prized in Asian countries, as it meant that women did not work outside in the sun doing menial labor. The article I read said that about 15 years ago, they started also having a lot of procedures to remove signs of age. This was a real surprise to medical people, as before then treatments consisted almost entirely of skin bleaching and whitening. Doctors have rushed in to supply the need, however, and are now helping 50 year old women look like they did when they were 28.At what point in history did youth and beauty become more important than age and wisdom?
Youth and Beauty have always had some importance, but it has only been in the last half of the 20th century that large populations of people have survived through age 50. Old age was once quite rare and was therefore also revered. Now, as we age, we try very hard to look younger. Report Abuse
Age before beauty, not anymore. Report Abuse
The early 20th century also saw the emergence of mass media, advertising, and public relations -- the power of Wall Street and Madison Avenue -- designed to shape minds and sell products. Coincidence? Report Abuse
Young people are better looking, easier on the eyes, and generally full of vitality...
THAT is why....
I'm 45, male, and do what I can to stay in shape and look good...but trust me...there's many a morning I feel it...and wish I had a 45 year old mind in a 21 year old body. Report Abuse
Actually.. the beginning of the decline of ';mature'; beauty was the end of the Edwarian era in 1907, when corsets went from enhancing the hourglass figure to elongating the body and slimming everything from the chest to the thighs. (the corsets really did go down to the knees). Report Abuse
A really applaudable answer Report Abuse
I don't think we can pick a ';point in history'; when youth/beauty became more important than age/wisdom. From an evolutionary perspective, youth/beauty have always been more important--even when we look across species. Report Abuse
Youth signifies that an individual is at his/her reproductive peek, and beauty signifies that the individual is healthy (i.e., doesn't have any diseases--at least those which are disfiguring). Report Abuse
If one is to pick a partner who is young/beautiful, they will have a greater chance of having offspring that will be healthy %26amp; will survive to reproduce.
I'm not giving a lecture on evolution, but even peacock males have evolved to have big, beautiful %26amp; very heavy tails, while females are bland. Report Abuse
They have these tails to attract females, who pick with whom they will mate based on the male's tail and call. However, since these tails are so heavy, they are actually dangerous to maintain--as you can imagine, it's difficult to run away predators with a long, heavy tail dragging behind. Report Abuse
Therefore, if these females were to pick their partners based on age/wisdom, they would pick the males who were smart enough to shed their tail, since they understood it was life-threatening. Report Abuse
I'm not saying that peacocks can completely compare to humans--of course we are a much more intelligent species--but it helps to sometimes look at simple animals to understand the underlying notions of some of our behaviors and preferences. The End :) Report Abuse
It's so fashionable to say that 'youth and beauty' are now venerated more than 'age and wisdom'. It is only because wiseness in some young people is taken for '*********' that the assumption is made that older people are necessarily wiser. Report Abuse
It dates back to ancient Egypt. Back then women would use charcoal to line their eyes, grind away unwanted body hair with pumice stones, and wore perfume. Report Abuse
Wigs also were a big fashion statement was was the paleness of skin. Royalty was always pale. To be tan usually meant you were a slave or poor and had to work long days in the hot sun. Report Abuse
There's an interesting article I read a while ago entitled ';What Is Beauty?'; You'd probably find it an interesting read. Report Abuse
Interesting thoughts but what does the last paragraph about Asian women in southern california have anything to do with this? Do you mean women in LA or South Beach-type areas in general? Please Advise. Report Abuse
Personally, I believe it is all media based. Once we started publishing girly magazines and selling consumer products using sex appeal, the real meaning of inner beauty lost all face value. Report Abuse
Nice answer - but it sounds like its out of a textbook.
The answer was Day 1. Report Abuse
Forget that ongoing saga, the answer is: The position of the male in society is to provide security, wealth and status.The position of the female is society is to provide beauty and child bearing capabilities.
A man is measured by his status, wealth and the beauty of his wife! Sad but true.... Report Abuse
the thing about the advetising is called propaganda.. it is making young people think that you have to be tall and musclualar to be a hot guy or sexy and slim to be a hot girl becuase on al the advertisements you see young attractive people on the commercials. Report Abuse
WHAT A COINCIDENCE!!! - As I am reading this question, what other song is playing on the radio than OLDER WOMEN (are beautiful lovers) by Roddy McDowell? Report Abuse
I think Bronwan's answer (the chosen one...) was right on the mark! Very interesting, well researched and presented...Kudos! Report Abuse
There is NO way it started in the 20th century. Youth and beauty have been hailed for thousands of years. Stories about finding eternal youth and beauty date back to ancient history. That answer is totally incorrect. Report Abuse
People assume many things are true without actually considering reality.
Old people are not extremely wise/intelligent. Wisdom does not accumulate over time. Old people are just regular people with outdated average ideas and assumptions.
Wise people are valued above beautiful people ie. Ghandi Report Abuse
humankind always valued beauty , as so all animals, it's a natual mechanism to pick out healthy mates, and not reject our babies. It's highlighted by industrialized societies that do not have to worry about survival. Report Abuse
Nobody has yet asked WHY it occurred. Why? Report Abuse
Reality of it is its always have been that way the difference now is younger people are becoming quick witted and intelligent at younger ages its human art of embracement. The only turning factor happens is when the elderly become more concerned with the younger age campareing them to there selves. Report Abuse
this is a preoccupation as old as man's fall. Report Abuse
WW II started with the invasion of Poland in 1939. WW II had no effect on 1920's thoughts on beauty. Nice 'educated guess' knuckle head. Report Abuse
I think it was freedom of religion. The bible says: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Pro. 31:30 When people turned from God the whole world changed, because every generation seems to teach their children less, about the Word of God. Report Abuse
So so true. Report Abuse
I believe this goes way back to the times of the egyptians.Were the women were beautiful with there eye and face makeup, and there skin was well kept. they didn't care about wisdom only themselves. Report Abuse
yep. and now u cant stop it muwhaha!!! just kidding. but it makes people feel preserd to look pretty expectailly teens to have that corterback boyfriend. the fact isits relly only going to get worse. :( Report Abuse
its always been beauty before age even thou some of the young were not beauty's they always thought they were wiser then the age. Report Abuse
Very interesting Bronwen!
I personally think it started WAY before then but your points are well taken.
I have done some personal experimentation regarding ';beauty'; with interesting results! Report Abuse
Good answer there, Bronwen!
Probably as a result of capitalism, consumerist culture %26amp; globalization, looks are more important today than education %26amp; wisdom. Just read ';Matilda'; by Roald Dahl and see what I mean. Report Abuse
The 50's,when television became widespread.
About the same time kids discovered they could make more money from acting/modelling/singing than from working the same jobs their parents did.
And I think kids still value experience if not necessarily age and wisdom if you can bring yourself to understand their language and not treat them condescendingly.
In my opinion, it began with the first beauty contests, continued with TV shows, movies, and advertising and continues, and will probably continue forever.
What a great question! I think when the plastic surgery movement became more acceptable, working out was no longer an option but a necessity, and beauty meant power and control above all....even wisdom.I think it very sad. Although, that beauty control thing can only get you so far without wisdom to go along with it. It amazing how obsessing about weight and beauty, depletes your brain of personality and smarts.
It probably occurred when we shifted from tribal communities to more ';civilized'; and ';organized'; groups. It could also have occur ed when society changed from matriarchal to patriarchal. I think both would make sense.in tribal groups, family was more important and information flowed from the older generations since they've experienced things more than the younger ones...our generation seems to base our information solely on the media and very very little on our grandparents or parents. As for patriarchal societies, men as a species tend to prefer younger, healthier (beauty shows health) women (instinctual needs for reproduction) so their interests being the more mainstream has made these aspects more important. Advertisers have also made this an important feature and it is always the most important feature featured on the media and will definitely have its influence. Anyway that is my opinion...I could be wrong
Actually, most tribes did look at physical beauty. Tattooing and piercing originated with tribal communities and most of this was done for physical appearance. Even when it was done to mark the transformation into adulthood, these tattoos, piercing, brandings, and any other kind of physical alteration was done to attract the opposite sex and acknowledge the fact that someone has grown into sexual maturity. Our culture just assumes they didnt care about looks because the alterations they did to themselves are not appealing to us. But then again, some of the things we do to ourselves would not be appealing to them either.
As for cherishing older people for there wisdom, well...first of all, in some ways we still do that. People in higher political offices cant even be nominated until theyre a certain age. We consider old people in proffessions such as doctors, teachers, and priests to be more knowledgable than young ones. Think about it, I certainly wouldnt want to go to some OBGYN thats 20!! HA HA
But then the second thing you have to consider, at least in our culture, is that 60 is considered the new 40. I'm seeing more and more often grandparents running around like theyre back in high school or something. Going out all night, sleeping around, wearing skimpy things, just in general doing things that stereotypically older people should not be doing. So, if a 60 year old is still doing the same things as a 20 year old is, why would that 20 year old consider the older person to have more wisdom. Yeah, they may have more life experiences but obviously it doesnt help if theyre still acting like a 20 year old. The last thing I have to throw in here is look how bad the earth has been screwed up by our elders. Obviously they didnt know what the hell they were doing!! I'm not saying the younger generation knows either, but we gotta have our chance to fix it without the older generation holding us back and continuing to force some of the ideals they had growing up into a society that is much different than theirs was 40, 50, 60 years ago. Advice is great but sometimes they just gotta step back and let some new ideas take over the old ones. Just my one and a half cents :)
When the ';moving picture'; came along.
It started out with Cleopatra! Youth and beauty was always more important than age and wisdom for women til the 1900. Women then started going to college and got their college degree. Then wisdom took a downfall, when plastic surgery and lyposuction kicked in.
When the French took over the fashion industry. And people started folowing the the Hollywood califorina life style.
when men realized they liked boobs
big boobs
and that the younger ones were more buoyant
ever since.
last week on monday at about 4pm
mainly after the advent of theindustrial and information technology (IT) revolutions took place. this is when the aged had no idea of what was happening. they had no answers to what was happening. that is when the young gained more importance! at least that is what i think! don't you
It hasn't occurred everywhere!! LOL!!!!
The youth will learn, eventually...
It happened in the 60's. Kids rebelled against authority, age and wisdom... and then, now - became the authority!
Right about the time the phrase, ';ignorance is bliss'; was coined.
early 80's
they just tell old folks that so they wont blow a gasket
During the 1950's when 'teen culture' began to emerge.
No comments:
Post a Comment