Allergan plc Question if a Feminist Can Love Fillers?
DUBLIN, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
- Debate hosted by Cosmetic Executive Women and Allergan
- Panellists questioned if 'Lying about your treatment is the new lying about your age?' and whether 'The biggest betrayal of the sisterhood is the secrecy around having medical aesthetic treatments?'
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), a leading global pharmaceutical company and maker of Juvéderm® facial fillers, reveals the outcome of a heated debate tackling the view that women who enhance the way they look, can be seen as frivolous, or even anti-feminist.
The debate, hosted by Cosmetic Executive Women and supported by Allergan, explored new research into women's attitudes towards the quest for beauty and youth. The panellists were Polly Vernon (author of Hot Feminist), Bryony Gordon (author of Mad Girl), journalist Sarah Vine and leading Aesthetic Practitioner, Alison Telfer.
Allergan's research with 1,507 UK women revealed 45% of responders believe you can be a feminist and love fillers, and 88% also agreed they should be free to express their beauty in any way they choose.[1] Bryony supported this: "Feminism is all about being able to make your own choices. It's normal to want to look good." Sarah felt: "It's ok to have whatever you want done, it doesn't matter what people think of you, it's what you think of yourself. If you look nice and feel good that's what's great."
What the panel unanimously agreed does go against feminism, are the current levels of secrecy surrounding having 'work' done. The research revealed that 38% of women who would consider cosmetic injectables would keep it a secret,[1] with almost half (47%) feeling they'd be judged for being vain.[1]
The panel discussed how secrecy was especially prevalent amongst celebrities, many of whom claim not to have had treatment. According to Alison Telfer: "The biggest betrayal of the sisterhood is secrecy i.e. not telling each other when you have had treatment and therefore allowing other woman to think you look that way naturally." While Polly Vernon said: "What I find profoundly uncomfortable is attacking a woman who decides to have treatment, on the grounds that it is anti-feminist. Surely, a definition of feminism includes feeling empowered to age the way you want to, without criticism or judgment." Sarah Vine added: "Lying about your treatment is the modern equivalent of lying about your age!"
The panel discussed why stigma around treatment exists and the perception that those who take an active interest in how they age are deemed vain or anti-feminist. Sarah Vine commented on the difference between radical feminism and postmodern feminism: "Some feminists from the 70s felt they had to look 'hideous and hairy' in order to take a stance against the view that women had to be perfectly preened for men. It was ok for feminists back then to think they wanted to look that way and it's ok now for feminists to say I'm taking control of the way I look and the way I age."
Both Bryony Gordon and Polly Vernon agreed that by being in the public eye, people think they have a right to judge the way you look. Polly Vernon said: "We are in a state of mutual judgement and need to find a way to break the cycle… age is mired in judgement and resisting age is also judged."
Caroline Van Hove, Senior Vice President, International Medical Aesthetics at Allergan says: "In recent years the topic of feminism has generated lots of conversation. At Allergan, we want to empower women to age the way they want, so it felt like the right time to have a candid discussion about women's desire to express their beauty in a way that is right for them. Women are united by an increasing desire to control how their looks evolve with time. This shouldn't mean they are judged negatively - especially when 74% say they are primarily making an effort to look good for themselves, not for others,[2] which closely aligns to a feminist viewpoint."
Caroline Neville, President of Cosmetic Executive Women who hosted the debate said: "How we choose to look, and how we choose to age is a decision each woman must make for herself. Judgement amongst women has led to an environment of fear and secrecy, and does nothing to support feminist ideals. This debate has revealed the need for women to start being open, honest, and supportive of one another's choices."
Those wanting to find out more information about cosmetic injectable treatments and how to find a reputable practitioner can visit the Juvéderm clinic connector tool: https://locator.juvederm.co.uk/
- Feminist with Fillers research, carried out Dec 2016
- Allergan Global Beauty Data on File 01 2016. (INT/0381/2016)
Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW), is a not-for-profit organisation for women working in the cosmetics industry, with over 1,000 members in the UK. They lead the conversation in beauty, addressing topics that are shaping the future of the industry.
About Allergan
Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is a unique, global pharmaceutical company and a leader in a new industry model - Growth Pharma. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercialising innovative branded pharmaceuticals, high-quality generic and over-the-counter medicines and biologic products for patients around the world.
Allergan markets a portfolio of high quality products that provide valuable treatments for the central nervous system, eye care, medical aesthetics, gastroenterology, women's health, urology, cardiovascular and anti-infective therapeutic categories.
Allergan is an industry leader in Open Science, the Company's R&D model, which defines our approach to identifying and developing game-changing ideas and innovation for better patient care. This approach has led to Allergan building one of the broadest development pipelines in the pharmaceutical industry with 70+ mid-to-late stage pipeline programs in development.
Our Company's success is powered by our more than 16,000 global colleagues' commitment to being Bold for Life. Together, we build bridges, power ideas, act fast and drive results for our customers and patients around the world by always doing what is right.
With commercial operations in approximately 100 countries, Allergan is committed to working with physicians, healthcare providers and patients to deliver innovative and meaningful treatments that help people around the world live longer, healthier lives every day.
For more information, visit Allergan's website at http://www.Allergan.com.
Allergan Forward-Looking Statement
Statements contained in this press release that refer to future events or other non-historical facts are forward-looking statements that reflect Allergan's current perspective of existing trends and information as of the date of this release. Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from Allergan's current expectations depending upon a number of factors affecting Allergan's business. These factors include, among others, the difficulty of predicting the timing or outcome of FDA approvals or actions, if any; the impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance of and continued demand for Allergan's products; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Allergan's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 (certain of such periodic public filings having been filed under the "Actavis plc" name). Except as expressly required by law, Allergan disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
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