Mature Women’s Body Image: What Influences?

As women in today’s society, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with images of beauty standards which are not representative for the whole but only a few. Young girls who are barely out of their teens are the chosen representatives, the spokeswomen, the ambassadors for beauty and form. Following the response from the blog, The Media and Body Image posted on February 02, the effects of media propaganda and its effects on the way that we as women view ourselves was discussed. This week’s entry will look at body image from the perspective of the larger population….. the 50 plus age group.


Studies conducted by the Melpomene Institute for Women’s Health have shown that women who were 50 years and older felt underrepresented in the media. In a study a few years ago by the institute, it was found that the suggested weight for a woman 5’4” in height and under 19 years was 113 lbs and 120-122 lbs. for women 19 and older. This is hardly realistic and healthy for older women. The problem for mature women is the lack of positive representation for their age group. Another study by the Melpomene Institute conducted in 1985 found the following: 39% of women aged 20-29 believed they looked better than most women, compared to 87% of women over the age of 50 choosing the same response. The results of these studies are quite amazing; they suggest that satisfaction with body image increases with age.


Curious to see how accurate these results were, I decided to conduct a simple survey of my senior women’s fitness class to see how they would fair in regards to age and body image. This questionnaire was created for women of 50 years and older.


The following are a few random replies from the survey:

One participant said how she felt unsatisfied because she was underdeveloped compared to other women her age when she was in her 20s-30s. She also stated that what had the greatest effect on her body image were other women, she constantly compared herself to others. When asked about her perception today, she responded that she was satisfied with her body today; “I am happy that I have my health and excellent use of both my arms and legs, this is what is most important to me now”.


Another female participant stated that she always felt good about her body in her 20s and 30s; she was always secure and confident in herself and abilities. She also stated that she never had negative feelings about her body; she always knew what she liked and never changed anything about her appearance. In regards to exercise, she replied that she never did it regularly, but she always liked to walk and run wherever she was going, if it was not too far. She also shared how when she was growing up, she would walk three miles to school each day, and three miles home after school, this was her exercise. In regards to the media, she felt that the media was changing its concept of what is beautiful in America. This has been evidenced by new advertisement campaigns to show natural beauty. Finally when asked about her perception of her body image today, she responded that, “Yes, I am guilty of eating too much and gaining more weight than I should have. My skin is still very good, beauty comes from the inside not just the physical appearance”.


In short, the various research studies have shown that in general, a woman’s perception about her body image and value increases with age. The results of my short survey were no exception; all women stated that they felt more confident about their bodies as they matured. Beauty is not just on the outside.

*I would like to thank the women who shared their stories about their body image. They have been greatly appreciated.*



(Take the survey)

Women’s Body Image Survey for 50+


1. How would you describe your feelings about your body image when you were in your 20’s and 30’s?

2. If your feelings were negative, what influenced your perception?

3. Was exercise a part of your daily routine?

4. How do you feel about the media’s representation of mature women in the media today?

5. Has your perception of beauty and body image changed since turning 50?