Everyday Ageism: CHRISTA D’SOUZA blasts the business of not bothering after a certain point, as she reveals a friend questioned her decision to get braces at age 60
- Christa D’Souza told a friend she’s planning to improve her teeth with braces
- The 60-year-old admits she was almost convinced to spend on a holiday instead
- UK-based columnist blasts the concept of not bothering after a certain age
It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…
Remember that old L’Oreal ad ‘Because I’m worth it’? I was thinking about it the other day while on the phone with a friend. I told her I was seriously considering getting braces.
They’re not so bad, my teeth, but they could be a whole lot better and Invisalign, those braces used by most cosmetic dentists, are not only almost completely invisible, they can make a huge difference.
Christa D’Souza, 60, (pictured) was almost convinced by a friend to spend her £2,000 on a holiday instead of improving her teeth with braces
But my friend, who is 60 like me, clearly thought I was mad. Really, she said? At this stage? If I were you, I wouldn’t bother. £2,000 on your teeth? Spend it on a holiday, instead. My first thought when I put down the phone was, she’s right, why bother now? And then I thought, wait a minute, why not bother now?
This business of not bothering after a certain point is precisely what fuels the whole insidious ageist narrative.
We keep being told no one’s looking at us anyway, but that’s missing the point. I wouldn’t be doing it for you, I’d be doing it for me. So I’m going to go ahead and get it.
Why? Because I’m worth it, of course.