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Society's beauty standards
Physical beauty vs inner beauty
The Social Conceptions of Beauty
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Beauty is a concept. An idea that changes from person to person. We put on makeup, do our hair, paint our nails, and buy the latest clothing in an effort to satisfy those around us and conform to their idea of physical beauty. By doing this, we often forget who we are and lose our inner beauty. Although many people focus on physical beauty, inner beauty is more important because it is permanent and a representation of a person’s true self. How many times have we heard or said the clique “don’t judge a book by it’s cover,” yet we focus so much of our attention on our physically appearance. Everyday we encounter images in the media that make us believe we have to look a certain way. Physical beauty is portrayed as important and essential in order to find love and acceptance. Although physical beauty is moderately important, it is less than inner beauty for it diminishes with age. Physical beauty is merely an illusion of who someone’s true self and is always noticed first. There are countless examples of people being beautiful with a nice body yet a terrible person inside. When someone looks at a physically beautiful person, they often think of them as friendly and caring because their physical beauty is giving off an illusion to others. Although physical beauty is an illusion, people are attracted to physically beautiful people. When someone we think is attractive walks into the room, we are drawn toward them. However, this is only superficial because once you talk to a physically beautiful person and they are unkind, unwelcoming, and only worried about their appearance, most people do not want to be around them. Some people are born naturally physically beautiful while others are not so “lucky.” This makes people look in the mir... ... middle of paper ... .... We often see other’s character and change to be like them. By doing this, we lose our own inner beauty. We are not our selves; we are a copy of someone else. Problem can arise with inner beauty and they are seen everyday. People try to act like someone else because they do not know how to be their self. They hate their appearance and that causes them to become depressed. Learning who you are and accepting yourself is the only way to inner beauty. Rather than not focusing on physical beauty altogether, we should spend a moderate time on it and then focus a large amount of our time on inner beauty. There has to be a balance between external and internal beauty. Once we find the balance, we can live our lives happily. However, although physically beauty is important, inner beauty is more important because it is permanent and a representation of a person’s true self.
When we feel the need to change outward appearance we need to be concerned and aware of how those changes effect the person we are within as we are about appearance. External beauty is not as attractive if the person inside is not the type of person we would want to be with. Appearance can be initially blinding and deceptive. When you being to look beyond the outer layers of appearance and into the character of the person you are relating to you can quickly find the beauty alone is not enough to sustain a meaningful relationship. Beauty can fade and appearance change as we grow older but who we are at the core should remain constant or improve with age and wisdom. Kit Reed’s story shows the high cost of how focusing only on your outer appearance to the detriment of the person you are can
In the essay “What Meets the Eye”, Daniel Akst explains scientific facts about the beauty of men and women matters to people. He argues that attractive individuals receive attention, great social status, marries, and gets paid more on a job. One can disagree with Akst’s argument because anyone with the skills and knowledge, despite the appearance, can gain a decent relationship and can get paid well. Akst looks at beauty as if it can lead individuals to an amazing and successful life, but he is wrong. Nancy Mairs’ and Alice Walker’s views on beauty are explained internally and through self-confidence. Both women’s and Akst’s arguments on beauty share some similarities and differences in many ways, and an
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart” (Kahlil). People focus more on the outward appearance instead of the inward appearance. One’s inward appearance is comprised of their character, values, morals, and the true nature of their heart. On the other hand, the outward appearance is composed of one’s dress and grooming. The inward and outward appearance determines whether or not a person is ugly or beautiful. The choices that we make also define whether or not one is ugly or beautiful; choices made in the past can sometimes be repeated in the future.
Many people today feel insecure about their bodies. They feel that people will judge them more if they have a crooked nose or eyes that are too close to each other. Some get liposuction if they feel too fat or breast implants because they think it will make them more attractive to the opposite sex. These people who do not feel happy about the way their bodies portray themselves to others often feel that way because, according to psychologist Alan Feingold, “Physically attractive people often receive preferential treatment and are perceived by others as more sociable, dominant, mentally healthy, and intelligent than less attractive people.” (Feingold, 304-341) The individuals who think they are ugly can transform themselves from “ugly ducklings” to “swans” by using plastic surgery.
Beauty is dangerous, especially when you lack it. In the book "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, we witness the effects that beauty brings. Specifically the collapse of Pecola Breedlove, due to her belief that she did not hold beauty. The media in the 1940's as well as today imposes standards in which beauty is measured up to; but in reality beauty dwells within us all whether it's visible or not there's beauty in all; that beauty is unworthy if society brands you with the label of being ugly.
There is a famous saying that states, “ we should not judge a book by its cover”, but oftentimes the first thing noticed on a person is their looks. One’s “physical beauty” strongly influences people’s first impressions of them. As a whole, we tend to assume that pretty people are more likeable and better people than those who are unattractive. Around the world, we believe that what is beautiful is good. There is a general consensus within a culture about what is considered physically appealing and beautiful. “Physical beauty” is associated with being more sociable, intelligent, and even socially skilled. Society shares this common notion of who has and who does not have “physical beauty”. Thus, “physical beauty”, as seen
In our society, appearance and its importance might not look like a problem because of how much it is present in our lives and how it has been presented to us but it is important because we face problems like bullying at every level from child to adult and lower self-esteem that are highly correlated to suicide. The problems that we face today related to appearances are important so this topic deserve attention. Because it affects children, parents, models, teenagers and everybody, we s...
What does it take to feel beautiful? Perhaps a little bit of time, make-up, and a breathtaking dress; or at least that's what we have been programmed to believe. Without a doubt, all of the magazines, advertisements, and make-up beauty tips have influenced women’s beliefs about what it means to be beautiful. An artificial image of beauty has been imposed on each and every woman in our culture.
Today, the idea of beauty has been turned into unattainable forms by media, trends, and marketing. To reach the social’s standard of beauty, many people have gone anorexic, bulimic, or have been addicted to plastic surgery. Many people are wasting money on beauty products to make themselves prettier, but they forget that their inner beauty is more important. Inner beauty is an essential key to the overall appearance of someone. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and is the combination of inner and outer attractiveness of one
There is a saying “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” What one individual considers beautiful may not be beautiful to another. Many people in this world have their own definition of what beauty is. Beauty can come from inside or the outside. To me, beauty is not only something that pleases the eyes. Beauty is a quality that pleases or delights the senses or mind. Unfortunately, society makes it nearly impossible to see our own beauty. Most girls are inclined to take a quick look into a compact mirror or run a few fingers through their hair, sizing themselves up with the nearest advertisement featuring a flawless bottle blonde. Some may go a bit further, running an endless list of insecurities
Beauty means something different to different kinds of people and cultures. The meaning of beauty is influenced by our environmental surrounding, society, media, peers, culture and experiences. When people think about beauty they think about the physical visual appearance. Actually is “beauty in the eyes of the beholder” (Hungerford, 1878), but perhaps it is more accurate to say that beauty is also in the geography, as cultural ideals of beauty vary drastically by region.
Beauty can be seen by a person in several ways, and it is perceived by most to be only skin-deep. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “It is the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.” Additionally, the definition from the Oxford Dictionary says, “Beauty is a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight.” In short, beauty is described as something attractive and likeable to the eyes. Nonetheless, beauty should not be seen on a physical level, but it should also encompass a person’s character. To further elaborate and understand beauty, one should know how the media perceives beauty towards
There are so many different opinions on what beauty is. The idea of beauty is purely opinionated. Beauty is your own idea, skinny or thick, long hair or short hair, light skin or dark skin. How people define beauty is unique in many different ways everyone has a different opinion. No ones idea of beauty is the same. In society today it has become more materialistic based if you wear the latest designer or you have the newest pair of sneakers out and the true meaning of being beautiful has escaped our souls. Beauty is not just what we see on the outside it is so much deeper then what we see its what we also have to offer on the inside.Your intelligence is beauty your mind, body, and soul. Beauty is not a single image, but the active embodiment
“Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder” This saying first appeared in the 3rd century BC in Greek. It didn't appear in its current form in print until the 19th century, but in the meantime there were various written forms that expressed much the same thought. This famous saying implies that everyone has their own definition and recognition of beauty. What is seen as a marvel to one person might be the complete opposite to another, just like a dress that I found very beautiful but my Mum found it not at all nice which explains the saying “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasurer” (Aighearach).Beauty… some people believe that beauty is all physical, having great looks, having all the guys and girls fawning all over you because you are the hottest bloke or chick in the school or wherever you are. Some people believe that beauty is the clothes you wear, the make-up you put on. I say those things are just physical beauty. Inner beauty is of the heart, it’s the person you are, you actions and reactions to other people, your way of life. Inner beauty is the beauty of the heart, being selfless, reliable, loving and caring and always willing to help even if you don’t know the person. Real beauty is about always being willing to assist anyone even if there is nothing in it for you except the pure pleasure of seeing satisfaction, content on the other person’s face, that person has inner beauty. It represents goodwill and kindness.
There are people who believe that inner beauty is more important. Sadly, societies nowadays have narrowed down the appreciation of beauty to only visual sense, but we forget that the inside of a person can also determine their true beauty. We tend to judge others’ quickly and harshly merely based on their appearance. For example, a guy with black skin, thick beard, and big muscles is considered violent and fiery. Another guy is seen as cute and trustworthy because he has white skin and a baby face. Those judgments are not often true because we do not get to know their real inner side. A beautiful looking person with an ugly heart is truly ugly. Time will soon age his or her outer look. They cannot reserve their youth forever even if they ask for the knife helps. That person’s ugly personality chase away the people around him or her. As a result, he or she will end up being ugly from inside out. In contrast, a not good looking person with a beautiful heart is beautiful. Inner beauty is considered as personality and morality. They express their inner self by caring and loving other people. Their inner beauty attract and create long lasting bonds with others. Inner beauty is always young, so it covers a person’s aged looking. Despite of being old, a person with beautiful personality will always feel beautiful and happy because there are people who are willing to love and care for