It doesn't help my self-esteem to know that men believe women reach their beauty peak at 29 and are most seductive at age 30, according to a recent survey on aging. Women themselves seem to believe that their beauty actually peaks at 31, but that doesn't make for much of a difference, does it? I'm already 26 going on 27, which means in three years I'll be 30. And honestly, I was hoping I still had a lot more time before I have to become self-conscious about my changing looks. I'm talking A LOT more time. I'd like to think that I'd gain a newfound confidence in my beauty and style throughout my 30s and still well into my 40s, 50s, and even 60s.
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According to the study, when it comes to aging people are just a lot harder on women. No surprise there. Around "84 percent of men and 91 percent of women say that women are under more pressure to look young than men." Boy is that true!
Women apparently reach their peak of sexual confidence between the ages of 18 and 29, right? But men feel more confident in that department throughout the ages of 50 to 69. Still only a sad third of male baby boomers claimed that they were attracted to women their own age. What? How is this supposed to help a woman age in confidence? Oh, and did I mention that they also think gray hair on a woman means "old" and on a man means "distinguished?" That some serious BS right there!
Ironically enough it looks like the young men are the REAL men when it comes to recognizing a woman's beauty, because men between the ages of 18 to 29 believe "cougars are hot." That would explain the smoking chemistry between Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart.
The fact that women undergo more pressure to look young than men really doesn't surprise me. But what does (kind of) surprise and disturb me is the fact that men seem to think that after 30 we're no longer as sexy. I'm sorry, but that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Some of the most beautiful women I know are 35 years and older. I mean has anyone taken a good look at Jennifer Lopez? That woman is aging like a bottle of fine wine. Okay, okay not the best example; she is in fact a celebrity. Fine, so let's talk about my elegant, 85-year-old abuelita who looks 65 and still gets handsome looking viejtos asking for her number. If that's not beautiful then I don't know what is.
This whole "youth equals beauty" mentality that society tries to promote is absolutely absurd. I don't know about you, but I refuse to limit beauty to just a number.
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