Carrie Dennett – Special to The Seattle Times (Thanks to MaryLou P.)
It’s no big secret that we live in a society that idealizes beauty, thinness and youth, and that these unrealistic ideals can make us feel pressured to look and act “forever young.”
In her new book, “Unapologetic Aging: How to Mend and Nourish Your Relationship With Your Body” (out now from Sheldon Press), registered dietitian nutritionist Deb Benfield explores how diet and wellness culture is deeply entangled with anti-aging culture, teasing out the toxic messages we receive about what kinds of bodies are “OK,” debunking the idea that we should all strive to be “super-agers,” and providing readers with a road map for letting go of rigid rules and caring for their bodies instead of fighting them — so they can age unapologetically.
As Benfield explains in her book, much of our fear of aging is about experiencing a decline in physical and cognitive ability.
That’s ableism, not ageism, because there are younger people who live with disabilities, and older people who live with bodies and minds that are able. When I talked with her recently, we discussed why it’s so important for people to see and understand the ageismableism link.
“I think identifying how systems of oppression have been internalized and therefore affect our relationship with our bodies is essential,” she said.
She writes that the media coverage of “super-agers” — people who maintain high levels of cognitive and physical function well into older ages — contributes to ageism by reinforcing that only those who defy the typical aging process are valuable.
“One constant thing I hear from my clients is ‘I’m doing all this so I can be independent.’ And I get it. I understand,” she said, noting that, after all, we live in a culture that values independence and individualism. (continued on page 2 or here)