Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination.

In Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old, Shields speaks directly to American women in midlife, challenging them to confront the gendered ageism that permeates media and society. She highlights how the media’s portrayal of aging women influences their interactions with others and their own self-perception. Many women internalize these messages, believing that growing older makes them invisible, unattractive, or less valuable. Shields’s memoir serves as both a personal account of her journey into middle age and a guide for women navigating the changes that come with it. While she acknowledges the challenges of aging, such as new health concerns, she also celebrates the freedom, confidence, and opportunities that come with experience. By embracing these aspects, women can live fulfilling, dynamic lives.

Contemporary American culture glorifies female youth, equating it with beauty and desirability while often rendering older women invisible. These societal norms shape how women see themselves and limit their aspirations and interactions. When older women are absent from media representation, they absorb the message that they, too, should fade into the background. On the other hand, when youth is idealized as the pinnacle of female worth, aging becomes something to be feared and fought against.