Age fabrication

From ArticleWorld

Ageing or aging is the process of becoming older. This traditional definition was recently challenged in the new "Handbook of the Biology of Aging" (Academic Press, 2006), where aging was specifically defined as the process of system's deterioration with time, thus allowing for existence of non-aging systems (when "old is as good as new"), and anti-aging interventions (when accumulated damage is repaired).

The biology of ageing is treated in detail in senescence. Ageing is an important part of all human societies reflecting the biological changes that occur, but also reflecting cultural and societal conventions. Age is usually, but wholly arbitrarily, measured in years and a person's birthday is often an important event.

There is often considerable social pressure in many societies to sustain denial of the ageing process. Considerable energy, money and time is expended to hide signs of ageing, especially among women. This may involve dyeing hair, elaborate make-up, or even cosmetic surgery. Among the young however there is often a desire to seem older to gain more responsibility and respect.

Age fabrication is when a person deliberately lies about his or her actual age. It is usually for the purpose of gaining privileges or seeming younger, sometimes going as far as to altering vital records. For example, up until the early 1950s in Hollywood, it was extremely common for actresses to subtract at least one year from their actual age. On some occasions, age is increased so as to make cutoffs for minimum legal or employable age in showbusiness or professional sports. Sometimes it is not the people themselves that lower their public age, but others around them such as publicists, parents, and other handlers. Using original source material such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, the census, social security applications, identity documents and death certificates usually provides the correct date and year.