My name is Hope and I am a victim to beauty. I'm a twenty-one year old college student and everyday I wake up to the idea that I need to change my image in one way or another to be seen as beautiful. This isn't a blog where I am trying to get every woman to accept that they are all beautiful on the inside or some other incredibly sappy statement about accepting yourself. Honestly, I can't believe anyone who says things like that without instantly thinking that they can't say that I am beautiful directly. I think that just turns back to the "well she is a nice girl" statement that is said because the girl who is being described isn't pretty. I just want to look back into the idea of why I'm not seen as beautiful or anyone else who isn't the media's representation of beauty. I've never met you but you are beautiful, I'm sure of it.
I know, by this time you are thinking that this is all just words and some lonely, sad (most likely ugly) girl had a bad day and needed to blog it out. You're wrong. I believe I'm more on the attractive side but based on what? That is the question I ask you. Based on what male attention you receive? What female attention you receive? Or what you see on magazines or movies? I believe every woman is raised to become what they see around them, what they are told is beautiful.
This is me.
My hair is dyed and I have make up on my face, is that what makes me beautiful?
I have to get the topic of skin tone out first. During the summer I have freckles. EVERYWHERE. I remember around fourth grade I came across the information that in history freckles were seen as ugly. The reasoning behind this was due to the fact that freckles meant that a woman was out in the sun. If a woman was out in the sun that meant she worked. Working is not attractive. Ten year old me was completely appalled by this. I couldn't control the pigmentation of my skin and I loved playing outside. My mom use to call them angel kisses, what little girl doesn't want to be so special that she has angel's leaving kisses on her? Now, I see that this idea of this aspect of beauty has continued on to today but in a different way. Freckles are almost seen as childish. Most baby dolls you pick up have the cute speckles across there cheeks and nose. When you are young you get to play in the sun, as you grow older this doesn't happen as much or you are just tan. What is beautiful is fair or tan, there is no in between. Freckles have no place. Freckles are still seen as an imperfection of the skin or something that kids have and will (hopefully) grow out of.
When I tried to look for this information on the history of freckles I came across at least four pages of searches that were either images of others with freckles or a million and one ways to get rid of your freckles. Why would anyone want to chemical take off a layer of their skin to get rid of freckles? This is insane!There is no reason that in today's society that freckles should be seen in this way. I mean, how strange is it that someone would rather peel off their skin than have freckles? I think that is gross! We either go whiten our skin or go tan it. Either way, we are harming our bodies for the representation of beautiful that we are surrounded by.
Of course, those who are fair wish to be tan because it means that they are "fun," that they go to the beach and do outdoor activities. Anyone who is fair knows that most of these activities lead to a horrible sunburn and the only thing that would be attracted to you would be a boiled lobster. However, those who are born tan usually wish to be lighter because it is almost as if the more fair you are, the more you are seen as untouched, not flawed. When was the last time that someone who is very dark was walking down the red carpet? This idea could take off into a more political realm but lets not go there! No one is happy with what they have unless they never turned on the television to see the perfect skin of the stars we are surrounded by.
Score one for media representation, Score zero for me.
I know, by this time you are thinking that this is all just words and some lonely, sad (most likely ugly) girl had a bad day and needed to blog it out. You're wrong. I believe I'm more on the attractive side but based on what? That is the question I ask you. Based on what male attention you receive? What female attention you receive? Or what you see on magazines or movies? I believe every woman is raised to become what they see around them, what they are told is beautiful.
This is me.
When I tried to look for this information on the history of freckles I came across at least four pages of searches that were either images of others with freckles or a million and one ways to get rid of your freckles. Why would anyone want to chemical take off a layer of their skin to get rid of freckles? This is insane!There is no reason that in today's society that freckles should be seen in this way. I mean, how strange is it that someone would rather peel off their skin than have freckles? I think that is gross! We either go whiten our skin or go tan it. Either way, we are harming our bodies for the representation of beautiful that we are surrounded by.
Of course, those who are fair wish to be tan because it means that they are "fun," that they go to the beach and do outdoor activities. Anyone who is fair knows that most of these activities lead to a horrible sunburn and the only thing that would be attracted to you would be a boiled lobster. However, those who are born tan usually wish to be lighter because it is almost as if the more fair you are, the more you are seen as untouched, not flawed. When was the last time that someone who is very dark was walking down the red carpet? This idea could take off into a more political realm but lets not go there! No one is happy with what they have unless they never turned on the television to see the perfect skin of the stars we are surrounded by.
Score one for media representation, Score zero for me.
But the war is not over.
You're right. Society places too much value on the media images we see, but we all have the choice to ignore them. I have come to the realization that the only opinion that matters is your own. If I think I am beautiful, then I am. Who cares what anyone else sees? It is what I see that is important. Why should anyone change who they are because they don't fit the typical standard of beauty? The battle is continuing, like you said, and it ultimately up to you to change the stigma. You are BEAUTIFUL. Who has the right to tell you anything different?
ReplyDeleteGoogle search gives two definitions for beautiful. 1.Pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically. I guess, in this sense, it really is the mind of the beholder. So everything depends on affected by social norms. And then, or course there's definition 2.Of a very high standard; excellent. Which begs the question: who sets the standard? Is it objective? Subjective? Who decides who is beautiful, and whose opinion matters most? I think the majority of women in America don't want to conform to society's standards of beauty, if they stop to think about it. Well, then, whose standard of beauty is everyone trying to live up to? It's a very interesting question; love your topic.
ReplyDeleteThis is really good, Hope and really powerful. I personally believe that media representation and societies standards screw up girls image of themselves from the day they step into the world. It's sad and disgusting the way that men are elevated to a higher standing just because we're men. I think you're doing a great job trying to break this stereotype of "inner beauty" being something only used by those who are considered "ugly" by society standards. Like most stereotypes, though, it won't be easy to break but I'll definitely be trying to help and supporting you in it.
ReplyDeleteHi Hope,
ReplyDeleteThank you for beginning to address this important topic! This issue raises two important questions:
1) The first is the one Lauren already raised, which is "who defines beauty?" To answer this question, follow the money! "Beauty" is big business, and big business comes out of creating a sense of need or lack in consumers. (Think the cosmetics, media, plastic surgery, and dieting industries.)
2) The second is a more fundamental question: why is it that beauty is such a salient issue for women? I believe this is because the female individuals of our species are taught from the moment we are born, that our attractiveness is our single most defining characteristic, which determines our worth as human beings. It is critical for all women, particularly women of your generation to begin exploring, questioning, and dismantling this notion.
I wish you the best of luck in your exploration! I highly recommend the book "Reviving Ophelia" by Dr. Pipher and the documentary MissRepresentation.