Presentation Schedule
“It Hurts (not) to Be Beautiful”: Midlife Women Attempting to Alleviate Their Labour Market Status Through Elective Plastic Surgeries (105169)
Thursday, 16 April 2026 16:00
Session: Conference Poster Session
Room: Room 151B (1F)
Presentation Type: Poster Presentation
Contemporary societies display a deep preoccupation with physical attractiveness, fuelling the dramatic rise in elective plastic procedures (American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2024). While extensive scholarship documents the psychological and social consequences of these procedures, often highlighting improvements in women’s self-esteem, quality of life, and social engagement — their occupational implications are far more complex and uneven. Intersectional factors such as race, socioeconomic status, and industry-specific expectations significantly shape women’s motivations and outcomes (Rhode, 2010; Nickson & Warhurst, 2026). This study draws on in-depth interviews with 30 working midlife women who have undergone elective plastic surgeries. Findings reveal multifaceted occupational implications involving workplace perceptions, career mobility, financial and time burdens, social stigma, and the intersecting forces of age, class, and ethnicity. Although participants reported boosts in confidence, they also acknowledged the health risks and ongoing demands associated with cosmetic enhancement. Many described feeling “trapped” in low-wage, low-mobility positions, especially as aging women navigating a labour market dominated by idealized digital imagery. They sought surgery not to meet explicit employer demands but to improve their employability, believing enhanced attractiveness might help them compete with younger candidates for roles where appearance is valued or to cultivate income streams as social media influencers. Despite satisfaction with their new looks, most had not achieved the upward mobility they hoped for, and some contemplated further procedures. These dynamics underscore the internalization of neoliberal discourses that extend employer influence into workers’ embodied self-management.
Authors:
Shani Kuna, Sapir College, Israel
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Shani Kuna is a senior lecturer at Sapir College, Israel.
See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress