Chiara Ferragni's neck and the obsession with female aging Why women's bodies continue to be under scrutiny
A photograph posted on Instagram was enough to reignite a script that we know all too well. This time the target was Chiara Ferragni's neck. Among the comments that appeared under some of his posts, there were several that did not talk about his work or his projects, but about the wrinkles and signs of aging visible on his neck. There are those who wrote that she 'shows more ages', those who have recommended beauty treatments and those who have used her appearance as a reason for ridicule. In short: once again the body of a woman has been transformed into a ground for public judgment. This is not the first time this has happened to Ferragni. Over the years she has been criticized for her weight, for her pregnancy, for childbirth, for stretch marks, for her face without makeup and even for the way in which she raises her children. This time, however, the target is something inevitable and natural, namely aging.
The Chiara Ferragni case: we are not even free to grow old
We live in a society that keeps asking women to look eternally young. On the one hand, the concept of aging gracefully is celebrated, that is, the idea of aging naturally; on the other hand, wrinkles, gray hair, less toned skin and any sign of aging are criticized. The message that comes is contradictory: we must accept the advancing age, but without showing the consequences. The neck, in particular, is one of the first places on the body where the skin loses elasticity. It is a physiological process, due to the decrease of collagen and elastin, which affects anyone, regardless of fame, heritage or aesthetic treatments. It's hard to imagine a man getting the same attention for a wrinkle on his neck. Of course, men can also be victims of body shaming, but social control over the female aspect remains much more intense.
Numerous studies show that women are judged more on the basis of aesthetics than men, both in daily life and in digital spaces i. Their value continues to be associated, at least in part, with the ability to appear young, well-groomed and in compliance with the dominant beauty standards.
The social effect
Social networks amplify this phenomenon. The platforms reward perfect images, filters, smooth skin and imperfection-free bodies. When a photograph shows a more authentic detail, such as a wrinkle or a sign of age, that detail immediately becomes the center of the conversation. It's like we're not used to seeing real bodies. The paradox is obvious. We have been talking about body positivity and body acceptance for years, but as soon as a famous woman shows a natural sign of aging, she is overwhelmed by observations that suggest, more or less explicitly, that she should have hidden it. This pressure has concrete consequences.
@whatzaraloves6 Can you tell what this week’s taboo on the bus is… for real though, the most natural thing is TO AGE
According to various researches, body dissatisfaction affects women of all ages and tends to increase precisely as the years go by, when the comparison with unattainable aesthetic ideals becomes even more difficult. It is therefore not surprising that the market for anti-aging treatments continues to grow, also fueled by the idea that aging is a problem to be solved rather than a natural phase of life. Of course, everyone is free to resort to aesthetic medicine or not, but the problem arises when a personal choice ceases to be such and becomes social pressure. If a woman decides not to intervene on her appearance, she should not be mocked. If she decides to do it, she should not be accused of being 'faithful'.