Susan Bordo Blog

Spindler, Amy. (1996). “It’s a Face-Lifted, Tummy-Tucked Jungle Out There,” New York Times, June 9.

In her article “It’s a Face-Lifted, Tummy-Tucked Jungle Out There,” Amy Spindler claims that over the years men have become more focused on their beauty and appearances as a result of the increased competition within the corporate world and the relative downsizing of major industries. “The shrinkage of the great white collar corporate institutions” has left many workers, especially the older generation of men, feeling insecure about their positions within companies (Spindler 1). These insecurities are a direct result of companies searching for younger and fresher employees to replace their older employees. The “elder workers” have responded to this movement by attempting to become more youthful to compete with the threatening generation. Spindler goes on to say that men aquire this new appearance by relying on cosmetics, and in some cases, even surgical procedures. Hair transplants, liposuction, eyelid surgery, facelifts, and pectoral implants are just a few of the many procedures that are catered towards men in the vast and expanding field of cosmetic surgery. Men in their 40’s and 50’s have begun to realize that in order to contend with this younger generation of “bionic men.” They must be willing to allocate more time and attention to their personal appearances considering the newly adopted “pro-youth” favoritism shown by higher-ranking businessmen (Spindler 3). Spindler’s goal in writing this article was to show readers that women are not the only ones who are subject to criticism based on aesthetics, and that men are under just as much pressure as women to maintain their appearances.