In popular American culture, everyone is exposed to beauty standards. We experience these subconsciously to determine how attractive someone is based on the beauty ideals of our culture. (Definition) Although every society has its own standard of beauty, the rise of technological advancements has made them a critical part of our everyday lives.
While we inherit beauty standards from our parents, peers, teachers, etc., mass media has become the biggest contributor. Images, advertisements, and headlines can all affect our perception of how we look and what we should look like. According to a study done by the NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association), girls with a greater exposure to media were more likely to overestimate their body size, experience greater dissatisfaction with their appearance, and reported lower self-esteem. They also found that, out of elementary-aged girls who read magazines, 69% were influenced by body ideals and 47% were convinced into thinking that they should lose weight.
The graph on the left shows how women in their 60s and teens feel about their appearance. As you can see, 50% of teenagers interviewed said they were self conscious, while 52.2% of women in their 60s said they were grateful for their appearance (OPRAH).
Although current American beauty ideals for women consist of narrow standards, they weren’t always the same. Beauty standards vary from different cultures, but also change overtime. For example, before the 1950s, when women in the US were most valued for looking fertile, full bodied women with broad hips and a large chest were often considered to be the most beautiful. Likewise, in modern-day Fiji, large bodies are a symbol of power and high status (Bradley University).
There are many steps you can take to act against societal beauty standards. The first being to take a break from social media. It can feel tricky at first, but many find that it helps your mental health in the long run. You could also indulge in books, movies, and documentaries that empower the body image and self esteem of women. A beloved book that covers these topics is The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf, because it underlines the problems with modern beauty standards and encourages healthy habits instead.
Although it may be cheesy, it is beneficial to list multiple things you like about yourself everyday. They can relate to your appearance, personality, or accomplishments. Finally, practice non-judgment: whenever you see someone, try to find something beautiful about them— regardless of size, shape, height, or anything else.
It’s important to mention that although this conversation is typically about women, men and non-binary people face similar, if not identical, problems. There are ideal body types for all genders, which are similarly promoted in the media and harmful for many people’s mental and physical health.
Thank you for reading this article. I hope it has brought the dangers of beauty standards to your attention, and I’ve provided you with helpful ways to stop indulging in them. Please take a look at the other articles written by Women Empowered Club members.