I found the Summers’ reading both thought provoking and intriguing. I liked the way that Summer’s describes the experiences of women in the world of skin care, as well as her own, especially since she is older. In particular, the main focus of the essay being that beauty and skin care is close to a religion (or a cult) was something that I never really thought much about.
An important point that Summers touched on is the part that social media plays into the entire situation, and how it possibly adds on to the female anxiety of aging and looking old. The idea of the “pretty privilege” is also a very important point made by Summers, and even adds on to the anxiety felt by women who are older, as “good” skin is akin to young skin. Summers also brings up the economic aspect of this mindset, and how it plays into the capitalism of the beauty industry. A few of these important points include that it is in general more profitable to be younger, or even look younger.
I think that the final thought brought up by Summers really hits home for the audience of the essay, as well as sums up the agenda of the beauty industry has aimed toward women who are older, because what happens when you don’t recognize who you are in your own skin?
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