Aging In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World

The sound of the word “aging” brings fear to humans just as how the emergence of a fine wrinkle signifies the loss of youth. Aldous Huxley addressed this issue in Brave New World by depicting how disgusting aging is in people’s mind. In fact, it would be ideal that one looked like twenty-one despite being chronologically older. Some people might believe that the issue no longer poses a problem, but, in reality, Americans still endure the frustration of not wanting to age and knowing the limits of their budget on beauty products or procedures.

Even though the 1930s was when the Great Depression took place, low budget was not the only problem. Because the concept of being old was viewed as a “social and medical problem [needed] to be addressed by professionals” (Geriatrics), women felt the needs to waste some money on beauty products despite being on a tight budget (Nursall). Though, it is also important to mention that those less fortunate did attempt to obtain the lost youth through alternatives such as pinching their face with generous pressure to thin out the skin (Paige). During this time, aging was not accepted as a natural process, but, instead, it was viewed as a problem because of one’s

poor health or budget. This perspective pressured Americans, especially women, to spend money or go through pain in order to not be humiliated.
Today, many Americans still face the pressure of having to look young despite the natural aging process.

Because cosmetic procedures offer a more youthful look at a faster rate and with less effort, they are “increasingly popular in the United States” (Howard). In fact, there have been about seven million procedures of Botox injection just to achieve the look of a smooth skin (Howard), which is an indication of youth. Furthermore, there had been cases where women were persuaded into having cosmetic procedures because aging signs such as saggy eyelids are reasons for personal problems (Guardian). Even though it has been about eighty years, humans, especially women, still face the strain of always having to look young, or else they will be isolated from

society.
Throughout all this time, there are still stereotypes about aging being the process of “declining [in] health, happiness, and attractiveness” (Walker). Such negative views on aging further explain why Americans are further pressured to look younger and spend thousands of dollars on beauty products in the 1930s through now. Surprisingly, as the idea of aging started to gain negativity, the “chronological age itself did not signal the beginning of old age” (Geriatrics). In fact, the chronological part of aging was not a hazard, but it was the appearance of aging on one’s face that caused people, especially women, to spend money on beauty products or even expensive procedures.
Americans still face the frustration of obtaining youth despite their chronological age. The concept of looking old is associated with medical problems has yet to be changed. Even though the 1930s was a time of a low budget, some people spent money on beauty products while there are better ways to spend it. As time goes by, technologies started to improve dramatically. Beauty products are regardless used, but there is now the option of cosmetic procedures. It is the fastest way of obtaining the youthful look, and it can be somewhere from getting a Botox injection to going under the knife. Furthermore, the media and society encouraged women to have cosmetic procedures because all their problems will be solved if the women themselves looked younger. Through all this time, the process of aging natural is seen as a shameful process that only those who are sick and poor would go through.