Does fighting the signs of ageing actually have any objective benefits?

I think people like to employ people that look like they are in robust health. So they won't hire someone who looks 'tired' and that's the big thing that ageing does do for a lot of people. Having surgery on their hooded eyes, or filler in their tear troughs, or Botox in their forehead, might not make them look a different age, but it might make the difference between them looking tired and in poorer health, and well rested and in better health.

I'm sure being naturally attractive does offer advantages for preferential treatment regardless of age.

I'm not convinced the type of cosmetic enhancements mentioned in the first post make any difference to a mature woman in terms of jobs or dating success. By that stage in life, no matter what one does to themselves they will look their age.

Looking healthy and natural as a mature woman (or at any age) gives a signal of reliability and honesty and these qualities are more preferable in the long term.

There is also an element of something unsettling when interacting with an animated face which has had interventions, because there is something not in harmony that we perceive, subconsciously. Yes, that face might look perfect in a photograph or in the mirror. But not when actively engaged with other humans. Subtle but strange, nonetheless.

The question is, does a woman use botox/fillers etc to make herself feel better (then why not, if it works knock yourself out I say, your body, your risk) or to try and fit in with some superficial perceived beauty standard (this one is tricky)?
And why do men go through similar procedures? What is the benefit there? To attract women?

I used to work for a large high street bank in customer services

I was asked to be in a management training dvd and was filmed pretending to be a manager leading a team meeting

I was not a manager nor had not had any experience being on screen. So was perplexed at why they'd asked me, the answer from my manager, with no irony, was You're blonde pretty and size 8. 🙈 this was about 2003, that would never happen now

I think being in shape and well groomed is an advantage but I don’t think a face full of fillers and Botox will tip the balance. Much as we like to kid ourselves a woman on her 50s who has work done will still look like her woman in her 50s. Youth is prized and cannot be gained through a needle of botox- sadly!

In my industry I think there is no real advantage in being pretty or youthful looking. I think being clever and well groomed helps. But not necessarily being conventionally attractive.

What's tretinoin? Worth it?

Back in the 90s, 19 year old me got a job as a garage parts delivery person. The manager out and out told me at the interview that they would always hire the best looking girl out of the applicants. The reason being that if garages had a choice of say 5 companies to buy parts from, each of them offering the same parts at very similar prices, which one will they go for? The one with the fittest girl who they can have a bit of a flirt with to brighten up their day. I doubt if these days anyone would be quite so explicitly honest in admitting this kind of rationale, but I’m sure it still applies to a lot of situations.

Interesting post OP.
I get my highlights done before interviews, to hide the grey!

It might depend a bit on the role. Being very doled up looking can lead to people assuming you’re not as clever or not as serious…it shouldn’t, of course, but I’ve seen it in action.

Saying that, I had cosmetic work done to my teeth (Composite bonding and whitening) due to a chipped front tooth from being pulled over by a dog in childhood) and lost about 3 stone it has made a massive difference to my self confidence and I'm certain it's helped my career which has rocketed in the last year. I'm 45 though, so aging hasn't impacted on that. Interesting thread OP.

I think being slim and reasonably attractive is an advantage. Not so sure about Botox etc- depends perhaps on your industry. Likewise there are certain ways of looking “done” that would be advantageous in my industry and others that would be disadvantageous. Being model-gorgeous would largely be a disadvantage and the women I work with who look like that deliberately obscure it at work.

There is research into people being given preferential treatment such as jobs, served first etc based on attractiveness. And in the study I am thinking of the measures of conventional, agreed upon attractiveness were off the top of my head: full lips, smooth, clear skin, shiny hair, symmetrical face, big eyes, white teeth, and blush on the cheeks (which are usually indicators of youth).

From a human psychology point of view humans are drawn to attractiveness, and it gives people an advantage. However I'm not sure these treatments always make the person look younger. I had Botox on my forehead and I lost the animation and enthusiasm in my face and felt unable to communicate in the way I do normally, it made me self conscious and the impact was I was a less able communicator. Plus people with lip filler tend to constantly fiddle and mess with their lips I've noticed too, so I'm not sure that self confidence people are seeking from these tweakments always carries through.

I think it depends on the amount of work.
I think it could have a negative effect with a very plastic or over done/surgical looking face. Compared to a naturally aged one.

Well not necessarily, but yes in general I think evidence suggests that youth is absolutely tied into ideas of beauty for most observers.

And yet this is something that is never addressed in unconscious bias courses.

🤣🤣🤣

the naivety

In the society we will in youth is valued so I would guess that yes, retaining an appearance that better represents youthfulness and therefore attractiveness, will deliver objective benefits.

This is generalisation of course bc there will be people who don’t give a shit about lines and wrinkles and will hire purely on merit and there will be men (and women) who are attracted to character and grey hair wouldn’t put them off a person.

Wrongly or rightly, generally youthfulness is associated with attractiveness and “pretty privilege” is a real thing so by the extension of that, it’d be a fair assumption that a person who (successfully) masks the signs of aging will have a privilege over those who don’t?

I don’t think you can separate out the two things though. For some people being wrinkle free increases confidence. The increase in confidence empowers them in their careers etc.

I think so. I definitely think there is a "pretty advantage"

It's an unconscious bias towards attractive people and I believe youthfulness plays a part

Well yes. It's called pretty privilege. All else being equal people recruit the better looking person. All else being equal people date the better looking person. That doesn't necessarily equate with the amount of Botox you have had though.