Just when she was hitting her straps, the world gave Brooke Shields her marching orders. Offers of acting roles and product endorsements dwindled to nothing, the enthusiasm of fans grew cold and the world in general seemed to forget she was there. The scene she describes in her introduction says it all. Brooke was walking down a New York street flanked by her two young, beautiful daughters, and became aware that while many were looking in their direction, no one was looking at her.
In the 1980s, Brooke Shields was ubiquitous on our screens and celebrated for her phenomenal beauty. In her early films, a sexually charged image beyond her years was foisted upon her and now, in later life, her sexual currency has been stolen from under her. It’s as though things have come full circle but this time, Brooke Shields is doing what her younger self could not; she is standing up for herself.
With a strict upbringing and a Catholic background, Brooke was a self-confessed people-pleaser for most of her life. She deferred to those she thought knew better, but as she has matured, she has learned the hard way to listen to her instincts. Whereas once she may have gone with the flow, she now takes on people in the entertainment industry, the medical profession, and potential investors if something doesn’t sit right with her.
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old is told with great humour and vulnerability. She shares experiences that we are told to keep to ourselves and accept as being part of a woman. However, by ignoring the messages our bodies are sending us and not insisting on appropriate health care, we put ourselves at risk. There are several instances in the book where Brooke describes receiving medical treatment where she was not informed of the risks and outcomes, and where extremely invasive procedures were performed without her consent or knowledge.
The next chapter of Brooke’s life looks to be a very interesting one, with her challenging the ageism of our society towards women, and starting her own business, Commence. Her refusal to be sidelined by a society that maligns older women is inspiring.
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed To Get Old is a wonderful addition to the recent canon of film and literature representing the interests of older women. This book is a call to arms for older women not to accept the dead-end society is offering, but to create our own path to the most fulfilling and exciting chapter of our lives yet.
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