What is the Real Beauty? Modern Day Beauty Standards
Keywords: Beauty standards, definition, modern times, media representation, psychological impacts, individuality
Author: Nikhat Parveen
What is Beauty?
What is beauty? Can beauty be defined by skin colour? Is your face symmetrical? The colour of your skin? Or the results of those prestigious beauty contests?
The word “beauty” itself is so generic that it would not be easy to define it. People have different ways of looking at beauty and have different perceptions of how beauty should be defined. As the ancients say, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. And again, this is only one of its definitions.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, “beauty” is a combination of qualities such as shape, color, or form that satisfies the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. This definition could be really compelling, considering the common examples in which beauty is used as well as described. But in this definition, the phrase “appeals to the aesthetic senses” is missing one. Which aesthetic senses exactly love it? Of somebody? The majority? An organization hosting deceptive re-enactments? Or the beauty standard of society? Or yourself?
First, a combination of qualities that satisfies a person’s aesthetic senses.
We live in a world where beauty is supposed to be defined by how people see us. We tend to count on the answers to this “famous” question, “Am I beautiful?” Yes, these competitions impose an intention of celebrating beauty and advocacy.
The Deemed Beauty
Women in present times are pressured to fit into the ‘mound of beauty’ presented to them, and use beauty to define their identities. The media constantly bombards us with advertisements pertaining to the idea of beauty and fashion. These advertisements can be found on the internet, in magazines, on television, on billboards, portrayed by celebrities and on the radio. As a result of this constant influence, Women and girls no longer think that seeking beauty is an optional. Instead, many women see it as an obligation to achieve the level of beauty presented to them and define themselves.
The constant influence of these advertisements makes us realize that we need to improve our appearance to be accepted by society. The ubiquity of unrealistic beauty creates a cycle of inaccessibility of these ideals and extreme unhappiness among girls as well as women. These norms have become widespread and persuasive. As a result, the number of women and girls with low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression also increases. Images of unrealistic beauty standards are detrimental in many ways to women. Although there have been changes in the way women are portrayed in the media, many changes still need to be made.
Psychological effects of Media representation of Beauty Standards
Women who pursue the unrealistic ideals of beauty incur high costs, including physical, financial, and psychological pain. The ultimate cost of meeting these standards is psychological. One of the biggest impacts of unrealistic beauty standards on women is the belief that what they see is attainable. The media is an influential source of sociocultural values that can be easily learned, a source of physical dissatisfaction. For many women as well as girls, the “perfect body” images presented are of extremely thin and underweight models.
The ideas that women and girls incur is that normal isn’t really good enough. By media standards they must be normal, and “normal” means unattainably beautiful and slim. Commercials make it seem easy for women as well as girls to get skinny like the magazine models we idolize. It is possible that with enough effort and sacrifice they can reach the ideal. We live in a culture that asserts that we can and should convert our bodies into a “perfect commodity”. The failure of these standards sets off a chain reaction that starts with poor body image and has far-reaching effects!
The experience of negative thoughts and esteem about one’s body is linked to a range of physical as well as mental health problems. These include disordered eating, obesity, body dysmorphic disorder, depression, or low self-esteem.
Even women who manage to succeed at matching society’s standard may still experience these feelings. These women are expected to maintain their bodies by exercising frantically and compulsively.
Lets define your own Beauty Standards!!
It is easy to fall into the trap of society’s definition of beauty. But, let us not be that kind who stereotypes beauty, rather, let us be the first ones to define our own beauty. Because, after all, beauty should never have any specific type of standard. Beauty is subjective and should celebrate every person’s individuality. Let us make a realization today that it is our confidence and own view of ourselves that define our beauty. Not that one ex we had, not that sorority we tried joining in during freshman year, not that pageant you used to be fond of watching every twelfth month of the year. Our beauty is only defined and should only be defined by us. Like what the old folks say again, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, Be your own beholder.
The definition of beauty has been researched, explored, revised and above all debated for many centuries, so there is no absolutely correct definition of beauty. So, everyone knows very well the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” quoted by Plato. His statement is most accurate when it comes to defining beauty, in the sense that beauty cannot exist on its own and is completely abstract. What a certain person may find beautiful does not necessarily mean that she will be considered beautiful by someone else. Beauty is made by individuals. Plato specified that the definition of beauty is not a universal thing.
According to Plato, beauty cannot be completely defined due to the fact that people see different things and people in completely different ways and looks. So there is no way to have a completely universal definition of beauty.
The beauty of the Mona Lisa
What people don’t realize is that beauty isn’t just the physical attractiveness or appearance of a thing or a person. Instead, it is the deeper connection and critical analysis to understand the emotional and perceptual experience of one’s senses and how one perceives it.
For something to be considered beautiful or contain beauty, it must meet the criteria of aesthetics, reflection and being natural or organic, and therefore beauty can be related to the Mona Lisa. Although the Mona Lisa fits into the category of beauty based on the definite criteria, it does not fit into the category based on their personal beliefs and opinions. It is agreed upon by many people that the Mona Lisa is nothing but a simple meaningless painting which from the surface can be agreed upon.
What people are failing to realize is that not all art is going to pop out or have a wide variety of colors incorporated into it or have an image that sticks out. So, the beauty must be natural or organic. The word organic refers to one thing being natural, simple, raw, or derived from a living matter. Some folks might argue not everything lovely or something that contains beauty has to be organic or natural. The word beauty has been tossed around and adjusted to suit social values throughout the centuries. As a result of that, the definition of beauty can’t very be outlined with a universal definition.
Conclusion
So, I would like to add ‘Embrace your imperfections’ but I won’t because there are none. Your ‘Imperfections’ and ‘flaws’ aren’t imperfections or flaws at all, they are simply you. There is nothing to hide or be embarrassed about, you don’t have to show off either, you can just exist for your own self. There are no flaws. You are the reason, every piece of you has a function and purpose, and you are worthy just the way you are.
This write-up is edited by Sharon Paul
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