What Is Beauty

WHAT IS BEAUTY?
There has always been a confusing line in our society of what beauty actually is. Accordingly to our society being
slim, fair, pretty, submissive, perfect, proper, childish, and dependent is beautiful, and women are conditioned to
these unrealistic stereotypes.
BUT, WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE?

A stereotype is a model, a cannon, a generalization about a person or group of persons that determines our way of
thinking, feeling and acting. Generally, they are learn from the culture, society, family, school, religion and media
Whether it is racism, sexism, ageism, stereotypes are everywhere an affects everyone, they are a bit like air, invisible
but always present. Our society often innocently creates and perpetuates stereotypes, but these stereotypes often lead
to unfair discrimination and persecution. Among this huge brunch of stereotypes, the one which is causing most
struggles at the present are those related with beauty.
BEAUTY STEREOTYPES THROUGHOUT HISTORY

Throughout history the physical appearance has always been very important for the human being. It had such a big
impact that it turned into an obsession not only for women but also for men. Beauty standards date from Prehistory
where men choose women with the most pronouncing reproductive organs so that at the time of giving birth neither
the baby nor the woman died. Also ancient civilization got their ideals of beauty and perfection too, like the
Egyptian where the ideal women was slender with narrow shoulders, also the ancient Greece considered beautiful
the harmonic proportions of the body, or the Chinese Han Dynasty where the beauty standards were being slim with
long black hair, red lips and small feet, or even the Italian Renaissance where a full body, light hair and light skin
was thought as the ideal of beauty.
THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF BEAUTY STANDARDS

Although the word “Beauty” has been defined differently, it generally means qualities or sum of qualities that give
pleasure to senses. That basically means that any quality or characteristics of an individual which is pleasurable can
be defined as beauty.
As a result, most women have become obsessed with it and they do all in their power not only to look attractive, but
also beautiful. Since it has been mostly linked to outside characteristics, there are lots of beauty products in the
market to improve the aesthetic value of women.
Many women spend tones of money and so much time to acquire beauty, for instance the common beauty standard
of being skinny, only makes money for the diet industry, while others subject to different surgery, tanned procedures
or treatments to ‘instantly’ eliminate cellulite or fat promoted by the esthetics industry. Moreover, makeup and
fashion industries are even more benefited from beauty stereotypes with the spread of social media.
Today, women are expected to be slim, tall, with a curved body, perfect skin, and big eyes and small and thick lips.
Not surprisingly, these standards have established insecurities among women who do not fit into these cannons.
Furthermore, there is a big association between the unhealthy and impossible beauty ideals and many physiological
disorders. Firstly, many women feel dissatisfied with their body shape. Body dissatisfaction have proved to be the
precursor to serious psychological problem like lowered self-esteem , depression, social anxiety and eating
disorders that even can end in suicide. Particularly younger women take part in extreme procedurals to lose weight
such as limiting their food, and participating in excessive physical activity. These practices can eventually lead to
the development of anorexia and bulimia.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE BEAUTY STEREOTYPES

Without any doubt the digital age has opened us up to another world, created jobs we never knew could exist and
connected people all over the world.
Although it has brought us to another communicative level, not everything is constructive and healthy. Since, the
media is constantly bombarding us with advertisements, articles, tv shows, everything related to beauty and fashion.
This idealization of beauty can be found on the internet, in magazines, on television, on billboards. Furthermore, the
new social media industry spread even more faster this stereotypes, in today’s world of Fecebook, Istagram,
Youtube, Snapchat, the prettier, sexier, and the more attractive you look on your photo, the more attention you gain
from the other social media users.
Social media promotes tons of celebrities, influencers, models and brands that sell themselves by creating an image
of perfection.
ALL FAKE
Those perfectly formed bodies have become the standard by which we measure everything else. Thousands of
famous people and models on social media document their workout routines, eating habits, and other aspects of their
lifestyle that contribute to the way they look. There is only one problem with this industry; it's all fake.
An Instagram model, for instance, can post a picture of herself in a bikini, showing off her perfect stomach, holding
up a weight loss tea supplement. Her caption reveals that this supplement is the secret to her perfect body. But , Her
job is to look perfect and promote merchandise. This creates an unrealistic beauty standard for all of her followers
who believe that this product is their ticket to a perfect body. Immediately these postings, videos and pictures send a
very dangerous message to millions of her followers, the majority of whom are young women who do not notice that
an immense amount of planning, makeup and photo editing went into the final picture she posted.
Definitely, one of the main diffuser of Beauty stereotype are Social media which ‘unintentionally’ offer Photoshop
and editing apps to create the ‘best’ version of ourselves fitting into such standards.
THERE’S NO STEREOTYPE. THERE’S NO PERFECT

BODY, THERE’S NO BEAUTY. EVERYTHING IS
SUBJECTIVE
Inspire of that, social Medias are full of people who think differently who don’t care about beauty stereotypes,
people who have broken the idealization of beauty. Recently, many influencers, celebrities, and common people are
trying to change this unrealistic view of beauty where anyone fit since we are all different in many ways. Those
people are promoting and encouraging acceptance and appreciation of bodies of all shapes, sizes, and appearances.
It is important to remember that real beautiful bodies are full of stretch marks, cellulites, pimples; there are different
skin tone and body sizes. Yes, the right diet can help one lose weight, stay fit, be healthy. But it's about the right
nutrition, not calories. Moreover, There is nothing wrong with any beauty procedure either, but dependence on these
measures can sometimes be unhealthy and dangerous.
Finally, real beauty comes from within. The most beautiful people in the world are those who have a good heart.
One's identity should never be shape by social conventions. One's self-esteem should never be dependent on one's
appearance. Appearances aren't everything. Character, values, skills - these are attributes one must seek to acquire or
develop.

What Is Beauty

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What Is Beauty

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WHAT IS BEAUTY?

BUT, WHAT IS A STEREOTYPE?

BEAUTY STEREOTYPES THROUGHOUT HISTORY

THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF BEAUTY STANDARDS

SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE BEAUTY STEREOTYPES

THERE’S NO STEREOTYPE. THERE’S NO PERFECT

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