The Daily Mail has variously dubbed them ‘adultescents’, the ‘Peter Pan generation’ and ‘TWITS’ (Teenage Women In Their Thirties), but is there really a burgeoning population of ladies who refuse to grow up in the UK? And with women seemingly determined not to age gracefully, will we increasingly find daughters ‘in competition’ with their mums?
Are today’s mums in competition with their daughters?
In previous generations, a list of Mother’s Day gift ideas might have consisted of some beauty creams, chocolates or perhaps the odd voucher – but today’s aspirational yummy mummies are perhaps more likely to request a pair of Jimmy Choos than a box of Thornton’s finest.
Image Source: Flickr
With a record 3 million adults now living with their parents in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics, and the average age for starting a family now at 28 for women – up from 24 in 1970 – it’s clear that ladies are putting off making serious life commitments for longer. But what are the reasons behind this phenomenon?
Well, it appears there are a number of factors at play, perhaps the most significant of which is the colossal social shift that has led to women having access to career and education opportunities that were unavailable to previous generations. With women increasingly focusing on their careers, defining life experiences like travel, and generally having fun, the rush to settle down has slowed to a plod – and this has been reflected in pop culture, with shows like Sex and the City heralding 40 as the new 30.
In recent years we’ve also seen a significant increase in the number of women electing to undertake cosmetic procedures like botox in order to keep the wrinkles at bay, with some now even viewing it as the norm. “Nowadays, it’s almost like having a facial. You can do it in your lunch hour and no one bats an eyelid,” explains recruitment consultant Fran Rowe.
Image Source: Flickr
And with high-profile celebrity advocates like Kylie Minogue, Courtney Cox, Demi Moore and Madonna all admitting to indulging in a spot of botox to keep their faces fresh, is it any wonder that ordinary women are also looking to take a sip from this particular fountain of youth?
The outrageous on-stage (and off-stage) antics of Madonna seem to support this notion of women who are determined to stay young forever, much to the embarrassment and chagrin of their teenage daughters – as does the BBC’s outlandish reality series Hotter Than My Daughter, which focuses on mothers who claim to be more attractive than their (usually mortified) offspring.
Image Source: Flickr
However, it’s worth noting that whilst there is a clear trend towards women attempting to hold onto their youth for longer, for every Madonna and botox enthusiast there’s a Helen Mirren or Emma Thompson flying the flag for graceful ageing, demonstrating that looking one’s age – and looking glamorous and fashionable – are not mutually exclusive.