Work

Gendered ageism and gray hair: must older women choose between feeling authentic and looking competent?

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: Aging women frequently use hair dye to disguise their age in order to avoid being stigmatized as “old”. Recently, however, some have chosen naturally gray hair. Informed by Goffman’s theory of stigma, we investigated why they would do so in the face of age-discrimination, and their experiences of the process. We identified two major, oppositional themes, competence and authenticity. Despite wanting to avoid perceptions of old-thus-incompetent, women risked gray hair in order to feel authentic. However, they employed other beauty practices to mitigate the effects of gray hair, indicating conflict between a (subjectively) authentic appearance and societal perceptions of competence.

Source: Journal of Women & Aging

DOI: 10.1080/08952841.2021.1899744

Authors: Vanessa Cecil, Louise F. Pendry, Jessica Salvatore, Hazel Mycroft, Tim Kurz

Institutions: University of Exeter, Sweet Briar College, The University of Western Australia, University of Bath

Language: English

Topic: Aging and Gerontology Research

Subfield: Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Gender equality

Open Access status: hybrid

OpenAlex ID: W3141795136

FWCI: 8.48

Cites: 55

Cited by: 47

Related to: 10