Perfection is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “being entirely without flaws; something that cannot be improved.” In today’s society many people, particularly young women desire to be perfect in their outward appearance. They want the perfect hair, the perfect skin, the perfect body, which so many think would be the perfect life. However, perfection of this kind is very difficult to achieve, yet so many people still want this perfect self-image. This desire for perfection has caused self-hatred within many and this pandemic of perfection is rapidly spreading amongst individuals. The song “Pretty Hurts” by Beyoncé Knowles clearly shows how perfection is truly a disease of a nation. People are faced with the pressure to be perfect in their daily lives, but why? Many individuals feel the need to be perfect because of parental influence, social acceptance and self-conflict.
Parents have a great impact on the mindset of young children. Beyoncé opens the song by demonstrating this fact. She states “Mama said, you’re a pretty girl, what’s in your head it doesn’t matter. Brush your hair, fix your teeth, what you wear is all that matters.” This line reveals the influence mothers have on their daughters as they grow up. They instill in their children’s minds from a young age that they should always strive to look perfect because “it’s all that matters.” Nowadays parents enter their children in beauty pageants at a very young age. These children must undergo drastic measures in order to look perfect so that they can obtain a crown. They wear tons of makeup, fake teeth, expensive clothing and even go tanning! Their parents force them to practice continuously until their performance is perfect in their eyes.
As human beings, we long ...
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... a temporary fix to the problem. In the end, plastic surgery is detrimental to the individual because they end up losing themselves in the process. The true reason they cannot find happiness is because they must search deep inside their heart and accept their flaws.
Beyoncé concludes the song by stating “when you’re alone all by yourself and you’re lying in your bed, you’re reflection stares right into you are you happy with yourself? It’s just a way to masquerade, the illusion has been shed. Are you happy with yourself? She finally ends the song by answering that question with a definite yes! You should not let your parents, the media, or your personal self-conflict cause you to feel any less of a person. Persons should realize that chasing perfection is a waste of time and instead of trying to be perfect they should accept themselves being perfectly imperfect.
In “Toddlers In Tiaras” Skip Hollandsworth purpose is to get readers to understand that pageants are teaching young girls to young women that the sexualization of their looks are their main value, leaving a negative effect on contestants physically. He believes parents are usually the main reason why young girls join the pageants to begin with so, he targets parents as the audience of his essay. To get readers to understand his point of view and to persuade them to agree with him he displays evidences from reliable sources using ethos, pathos and logos throughout the article.
In the short book, Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen, Quindlen shares her wisdom of the term “perfection.” She discusses her personal experience of being “perfect” when she was younger and tries to persuade the readers that being “perfect” is not worth the hardships, but finding and expressing someone’s true personality and character is. Striving for “perfection” can fog people’s mind in acting contrary to their true selves. For example, people begin to expect the ultimate best out of one another and begin to lack the understanding of others. All people should learn to give up the unreachable goal of being flawless because everyone makes mistakes; it is the way in which people handle their mistakes that makes their true personality shine.
Children beauty pageants encourage young girl’s to wear make-up, dress in fancy, expensive clothes, and prove to the judges they have what it takes to beat the other contestants. Jessica Bennett states in Tales of a Modern Diva “But this, my friends, is the new normal: a generation that primps and dyes and pulls and shapes, younger and with more vigor. Girls today are salon vets before they enter elementa...
Many mothers who allow their children to participate in beauty pageants would argue that performing in the pageants isn’t as stressful and serious as the television shows portray them. In fact, “the pageant industry promotes this idea by advertising pageants as family affairs that are great for a child’s self-esteem and poise” (Wolfe 445). Also, in an article written by Lise Hilbodt-Stolley, a mother of a pageant princess stated “that while pageants may be ‘politically incorrect’ they are drug, alcohol and gang free” (3). However, many parents push their children to win because they are either greedy for the money and fame that accompanies a win, or are living through their young children because of their own feelings of inadequacy. These same parents who are blinded by the possibility of their baby...
Society longs for a perfect model to show how humanity should be. Throughout history, perfection has been looked for in gods and other-worldly beings, yet never in humans. Perhaps this is because perfection is subjective and unattainable. Each person can have their own idea of what makes someone perfect, which can make the most ideal person, imperfect. One simple flaw can be seen as imperfect. Despite that, with the advancement of technology and media, people try to become perfect through surgeries and other, more damaging, processes. In “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a scientist believes that the removal of his wife’s birthmark can make her perfect, or rather, his idea of perfect. Hawthorne uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and dark romantic ideals to say that while attempting to be perfect, you can be hurting yourself or others.
The constant pursuit of being perfect, including covering oneself with innumerable coats of makeup and going on extreme diets, is an enormous problematic that is attributable to deep feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem among girls. Given that nobody is capable of being entirely perfect, the aspiration to be that is unrealistic, and hence infeasible. This is exceedingly damaging because the incapability to attain this objective can give rise to feelings of major unhappiness or even depression. Consequently, it is crucial to call a halt to such a destructive goal. One of the most ground-breaking individuals who has made the attempt is the famous singer, songwriter, and actress, Alicia Keys. With her essay
“Perfection is a disease of a nation” (Beyonce Knowles Lyrics). Beyoncé’s music video “Pretty Hurts” is a behind the scenes look at a beauty pageant on how women really feel trying to fit how the media wants us to look. The media makes women and girls feel that the only way they can be happy is by being pretty. The media sets the standards high for someone to be pretty enough to fit in. The video was released on April 24th, 2014; it was filmed at a small high school in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. It was filmed at a high school because the producers wanted the video to feel more like a small town pageant. While Beyoncé was growing up she did beauty pageants and experienced first handedly what they were like for girls. The song was written by Sia Furler, and the video was produced by Columbia Records. In
In conclusion, cosmetic surgery is not a solution to peer pressure, insecurity and bullying , in contrary, it increases depression rate for most people,causes selfdestruction for most cases, and damgages ones selfesteem after idolizing celebrities who have the perfect figure.
Cosmetic surgery is essentially not a bad thing. Some people suffer facial and body injuries or are born with a deformity which can only be corrected by plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery can also be a life saver in cases of extreme obesity. However, some people-especially young females- are becoming too obsessed with their looks and body. The quest of finding the perfect body has led many to the operating table, opting for multiple cosmetic surgeries.
She grabs the foundation and smothers her face with it; she creates a mask. She sprays the hairspray till the fumes clog the air. She squeezes into her bejeweled dress and puts on her heels. She transforms into someone who is unrecognizable, and fake. This is a little girl. The process of preparing for a beauty pageant is very demanding and stressful while little girls spend hours training and getting ready for their appearance on stage. Weeks are spent choreographing their dance routines and thousands of dollars are spent on, “glitzy” dresses, fake teeth, and spray tans. As long as beauty pageants for girls under the age of 16 continue, there will be an increase in mental and physical issues, an increase in the objectification of women, and there will be negative impacts for little girls.
Being beautiful, being perfect, is what most of society cares about in this day and age. For example, people value getting rid of any to all imperfections, like having a bit of baby fat, or getting rid of scars. People are put down by the comments of strangers, and more so the comments made from people of their inner circle. People feel ugly and hate themselves for things that they have no control over. Some do radical things to get rid of these imperfections by getting surgery or taking pills. Even though not all people judge minor blemishes the view of one’s self is the most important view a person could have, and if that identity is under attack it could ruin a person 's self confidence. The story “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne also has aspects of self-confidence and identity that are relevant to the current times.
All mothers want their daughters to be successful and beautiful, but there is a point where it does go too far. Mark Sichel a New York based licensed clinical social worker stated "little girls are supposed to play with dolls, not be dolls" (Triggs).Younger and younger girls are becoming exposed to the immoral ways of the world. Some girls as young as 1 month old are put in pageants. Others have no choice because this is what their parents want for them repeatedly they are told "keep smiling" "point your toes" instead of "wash your hands" or "say please". This pageant world has taken over more than a few weekends it consumes their entire lives. As the popular TLC reality series "Toddlers and Tiaras" has reignited controversy over a culture made notorious by the JonBenet Ramsey tragedy , the parents behind these pageants continue to go to the extreme lengths to win ( Triggs ).Fake eyelashes spray tans and waxed eyebrows, these are few of the things that are done to make a pageant girl perfect. This is not appropriate for a 5 year old, even worse is there behavior and attitudes. Their beha...
Since most people think that the “ideal” is impossible to reach, they are led to feel inadequate. The idea of perfection is a mere deception because, the obsession of trying to reach perfection is taken to extremes, perfection is based on individual opinion and there is no such thing as actual perfection.
This quest of perfectionism not only happened to Aylmer, it is also happening in today’s world. Perfectionism has taken over people’s mind. For example, teenage girls want to have bigger butts like Nicki Minaj, and flawless faces like Beyoncé. They would spend their
Plastic surgery, when performed by an expert surgeon for the right reasons, is the best decision anyone can make. Aesthetic pro of plastic surgery can make people look younger, more attractive, and also re-contouring one’s body. Therefore, plastic surgery can promote happiness, self-esteem, self-confidence. Most definitely a true statement, concerning what a bigger eyes, thinner body can do, especially for people who are not happy with how they look, or have been in some sort of accident. While improving one’s self-confidence, self-esteem, plastic surgery can generally boost in the quality of life. Perfect outlook will lead to the satisfaction, happiness with re...