October is not just the month of overpriced pumpkin spice lattes and new Apple products, it is my birthday month. Yes I'm the big twenty-two this year and frankly I feel a little gypped. Let me explain, when I was younger I expected to have my whole life in order by the time I hit this milestone. My life was supposed to be a Kate Hudson level romantic comedy, where I am a successful magazine executive who is just the right amount of sporty mixed with chic. I also have a great apartment, killer fashion sense, rock hard abs and sassy best friends whose entire story-lines revolved around their friendship with me. The simple things, really. In reality I'm a super broke college senior who considers waking up before 11am and brushing my hair an accomplishment (dry shampoo is the only sassy best friend in this scenario). Although I have not mastered this whole being an adult thing, it doesn't stop my mom from bringing up the fact that she was engaged to my father at my age (thanks Ma). Anyways October is almost coming to an end so I thought I would document what my first month as a twenty-two year old has been like through a series of events.
1. Collagenless in the City :
I won a "spa" day for my friends and I with a MarkyKay consultant, whom we shall call Linda. I use the word spa in quotations because it really was just us being told how we're doomed to age and how if we don't prepare for the age-pocalype we'll be sorry. Linda then continued on with her spiel by commenting on the fact that some of us were already showing signs of wrinkles and were in dire need of her products. Is she looking at me? Linda, you better not be looking at me. Oh my god she's looking right at me. With that Linda had me sold on about two hundred dollars worth of Mary Kay products, just kidding I'm still a broke college student so I get to live with my wrinkles. Linda went on to mention that by the age of 22 your body no longer produces the collagen that keeps your face youthful. Oh no not you too collagen, come back please? Needless to say I spent a good amount of time looking for these alleged wrinkles and saying my proper goodbyes to collagen. You will be missed.
2. OKStupid.com
Upon remembering that I just turned twenty-two, my sister turned me over to a less than delightful study by Christian Rutger, founder of OKCupid. The study suggests that heterosexual men are looking for women who are in their 20s more specifically 20. If you're older than 22 your desirability drops. I mean I guess the youth obsessed culture really is as misogynist as it seems.
3. Gray & here to stay
I had to get out of my October funk so naturally I booked a haircut appointment for a new fresh start. Once my hair was shampooed and ready to be dried my uber chipper hairdresser spotted a unicorn hair. What is a unicorn hair you ask? Well according to her it is a lone silver hair. Cue the panic. I have great hair genetics how did that get there? Is it an evil hair that will turn all the rest against me? Can I pull off the silver fox look? I'm no Anderson Cooper. For Pete's sake I'm only 22. I spent the rest of the night asking friends to find this unicorn hair, but much like a unicorn it may as well not have existed. Spa days: 2 Imaan: 0
4. I wanna be forever young?
Growing up in a youth obsessed, patriarchal culture is difficult to say the least. We teach young girls and women that their worth is intrinsically tied with their looks. According to PsychologyToday, "In 2011 alone, Americans spent $10.4 billion on cosmetic surgery. Annually over $1.2 billion is spent on liposuction, $800 million on hair transplants and $11 billion on vitamins and supplements." I can't help but think of poor Renee Zellweger who was shamed in a typical ageist and sexist manner by the internet. Recent photographs of Zellweger emerged online and the internet was shocked about how different her face looked. Many were speculative of whether she had surgery and many were also cruel in their comments towards her. The comments rarely highlighted Zellweger's impressive career and accomplishments, did any of them even see Chicago?
If we send this message to young girls that your looks are more important than your skills, interests and passions it is detrimental to their cognitive abilities. You can not focus on your education or interests if you are constantly worried about your looks. I for one am over this Ariana Grande, sexualized baby doll culture and refuse to enable it any further. Yes silver hairs and wrinkles are not my favorite things in the world, but they are part of my body and my story. They also do not in the slightest diminish my drive and excitement for the future. Do you think Beyonce has time to worry about these things? Nope and neither do I, cause ladies we flawless.
If we send this message to young girls that your looks are more important than your skills, interests and passions it is detrimental to their cognitive abilities. You can not focus on your education or interests if you are constantly worried about your looks. I for one am over this Ariana Grande, sexualized baby doll culture and refuse to enable it any further. Yes silver hairs and wrinkles are not my favorite things in the world, but they are part of my body and my story. They also do not in the slightest diminish my drive and excitement for the future. Do you think Beyonce has time to worry about these things? Nope and neither do I, cause ladies we flawless.