Double Standard aging is common among females between the age of 35 and 55. The process is complicated and considers both the gender of the observer and the observed and also the social context of the situation. The physical changes undergone by women during the process of aging strongly affect how they are perceived in the society unlike the changes experienced by men. According to Blaikie (1999), a female is likely to be judged higher in a private social setting by both male and females than she would in a group social setting. In a group setting, women are consistently rated consistently lower than the men in terms of attractiveness. Chin argues that both men and women undergo a change in the level of attractiveness but the rating is greater in women than in men (Chin, 2004). The rating is lower not only in terms of women’s attractiveness but also in feminine features. Men retain their masculinity and look extremely handsome.
As noted by Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2002), producers in the film industry tend to hire young writers and young male actors for principle roles though old people watch their products and buy the advertised goods with the result of a “double jeopardy” for actors who are both female and old. Most film organizations are under the control of males because of greater competence and productivity. Old women appear less active and charming in comparison to men who make romances with much younger women and hence men appear in heroic roles more frequently than women (Polan & Taylor, 2007).
According to Lamanna and Riedmann (1998), Hollywood employers choose youthful stars because the production involves long hours and repetitive activity of filming require much strength and that the subplots of genre films tend to focus on erotic romance. Old men tend to enjoy romance with young women than the old women would do with young men. Men hold more prime posts in Hollywood rather than women because they are more appealing and do not lose their masculine features. According to Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2002), though some romantic comedies feature women in principal roles, women are starring only in two dozen of all cop action movies. Those women are disproportionately four times younger- as likely as male actors to portray rookies. However, there are some prominent old female actresses such as Judi Dench (Skyfall), Maggie Smith (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone), and Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream) among many others whose play will be remembered.
Old men in the film industry are mostly given the principle roles as compared to the old women. The old male actors look more presentable and alluring in the movies as compared to the old women actors. Old men still participate in romance with the young women. Most of the women are forced to hide their ages because of the physical differences between them and men of the same age. The male and female human-being look significantly different at the age of 40.For that reason both men and women in Hollywood are struggling to retain the leading roles in movies or any other film projects. It is considered the more experienced actor is in the movie the higher rates it will have. Actors like Bruce Willis still rock the stage as compared to female actors of his age.
In conclusion, double aging standard considerably affects women who are connected to film industries as beauty is the main requirement. It is natural for women to lose their fascinating beauty with age. However, nowadays there are thousands of ways for women to become young again. .
