The Vanity in Defining Beauty

704 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The definition of beauty

When flipping though the the glossy pages of a magazine it’s easy to notice similar attributes possessed by the models. These include long healthy hair, straight white teeth, high cheek bones, slender bodies and delicate feminine features. One would assume that that these traits are common characteristics of beauty and universally recognized, but that assumption would be wrong. Take China for example, the cultural norm for beauty is incredibly diverse to America’s. Plump round bodies and cherub like faces are traits of the most desirable Chinese belle. So what is beauty? The answer all depends on what region, culture or even decade in history you’re referring to. Beauty does exist within a societal scope and includes some common attributes, but should you attempt to define beauty as a universal whole your efforts would be in vain.

Regionally speaking; definitions of beauty extend endlessly. For example take the photos of Iconic american beauty Marilyn Monroe and the unnamed swahili women provided in Brassil. As you can see much of Monroe’s beauty is actually sex appeal. From her l...

Show More
Related

  • Definition of Beauty and Its Portrayal in Art and Fashion

    1851 Words  | 4 Pages

    Who sets the standards for beauty? What must one do to truly look beautiful? What does feeling beautiful mean? When considering the concept of beauty one must differentiate between the universal and relative perception of beauty. Among the components of universal beauty are harmony, symmetry and utility. However, perception of beauty is also relative, when it is defined by the standards of the time that are subjective to the socio economic values of the era. One of the ways these values are communicated is through images portrayed in art and in modern times through the media. ‘Fashion’ is the carrier of theses values though physical appearance and self-image that define power, rank, acceptability and belonging. Having ‘fashion’ as the medium of these relative values bring advantages and disadvantages. Although there are benefits of matching the fashion of the time, positive self-image and satisfaction with a feeling of acceptance these are temporary because fashion is ever changing. On the other hand not conforming to the contemporary standards can have a detrimental impact on self-image that leads to feeling a sense negative self worth and marginalized. Eating disorders are a powerful manifestation that fashion has on the psyche. The underlying idea of what fashion ‘is’ is value. Amongst all the change of fashion, value remains ever present.

    Read More

  • Depictions of Beauty in the Victorian Era

    1417 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Victorian novel, physical appearance was a primary means of characterization (Lefkovitz 1). A hero or heroine's beauty (or lack thereof) was probably the most important aspect of his or character. As Lefkovitz points out, beauty is always culturally defined. How then, did the Victorians define it?

    Read More

  • The Everchanging Perception of Beauty

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is beauty? It seems like a simple enough question, yet it has an extremely elusive, ever-changing answer according to American society. What is “popular” or “stylish” at the moment could be completely obsolete the next. This question has plagued societies for ages and continues to motivate women all over the world go to drastic lengths in their search for beauty. As women in remote Asian villages search to attain beauty by stretching their necks with heavy metal coils (Anitei) and women in America lie in enclosed melanoma-inducing tunnels of light so they can emerge gloriously tanned (Is Indoor Tanning Safe?), God has another, far more fulfilling plan for true beauty. Beauty in American society is so fluid, elusive, and superficial that it doesn’t possibly equate to the plan that God has for women to view themselves. Real beauty comes from character, confidence, and an identity in Christ.

    Read More

  • An Unhealthy Obsession: Unattainable Modern Standards of Beauty

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    People are always complaining about how they aren’t as pretty as models on billboards, or how they aren’t as thin as that other girl. Why do we do this to ourselves? It’s benefitting absolutely nobody and it just makes us feel bad about ourselves. The answer is because society has engraved in our minds that we need to be someone we’re not in order to look beautiful. Throughout time, society has shaped our attitudes about appearances, making it perfectly normal and even encouraged, to be five feet ten inches and 95 pounds. People have felt trapped by this ideal. Society has made these beauty standards unattainable, therefore making it self defeating. This is evident in A Doll’s House, where the main character, Nora, feels trapped by Torvald and society’s standard of beauty. The ideal appearance that is prevalent in society is also apparent in the novel, The Samurai’s Garden, where Sachi is embarrassed of the condition of her skin due to leprosy and the stigmas associated with the disease. The burden of having to live up to society’s standard of beauty can affect one psychologically and emotionally, as portrayed in A Doll’s House and The Samurai’s Garden.

    Read More

  • An Extended Definition of Beauty

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    The subjective element of beauty involves judgment, not opinion. Many people feel beauty is only something seen by the eyes. St. Thomas Aquinas views beauty in both the supernatural and natural orders. Aquinas lists the attributes of beauty to be found in nature. These are; unity, proportion, and clarity. We will see how these attributes of beauty are seen through the eye and felt by the heart.

    Read More

  • Deconstructing the Idea of Beauty

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    In her controversial bestseller Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf argues how culture’s images of beauty found on television, magazines, advertisements and pornography are detrimental to women. She exposes the unrealistic and impossible standards of female beauty that create insecurity and self hatred that can be easily exploited by glossy magazine pictures, fashion world, Hollywood, diets and plastic surgery industries. Wolf demonstrates that the concept of “beauty” is a created weapon that is used to make women feel badly about themselves because realistically not everyone can live up to the ideal template. Wolf’s argument is effective because through the use of persuasive and convincing language, she allows the reader to know the whole truth of how women are harmed in so many areas due to our culture selling women pointless products and pressuring them into striving for a certain narrow picture of beauty.

    Read More

  • The Beauty Myth

    981 Words  | 2 Pages

    After scouring the internet for books on women and the history, I stumbled upon The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women by Naomi Wolf. I was instantly intrigued by the title as well as ironically enough, the cover of the book. It features a figurine of a woman in her underwear examining herself in a mirror. The image is quite powerful in that the figurine being featured is not that of a skinny woman. She clearly has some curves and shorter hair which is not the preconceived idea of beauty that we already have in engraved into our brains. This bold choice is what ultimately drew me into reading Wolf’s analysis on beauty and its effects on women. Upon making this decision I did some more research to learn about its impact on the literary world. I discovered that the book had been a favorite among women for years. Many of the reviews described it as a must-read for any women surviving in modern day Western society. Throughout the book Wolf argues that the concept of beauty is entirely socially manufactured as an indirect way for the Western world to remain a patriarchal society. “‘Beauty’ is a currency system like the gold standard. Like any economy, it is determined by politics, and in the modern age in the West it is the last, best belief system that keeps male dominance intact” (12). Her basic premises is that as women have gained increased social power and acclaim, the expectation that women succumb to certain standards of physical beauty has increased drastically. “The enthusiasm with which the job market assigned financial value to qualifications from the marriage market proves that the use of the beauty myth is political not sexual: The job market refined the beauty myth as a way to legitimize employment ...

    Read More

  • Clothing In Society Essay

    1694 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sociologists know that a person 's clothing - the same social alarm, as well as his speech, behavior, etc. Even those who assures us that "dresses them quite interesting," and dress as casually as possible, in fact,.. thus inform about their role in society and its attitude to the culture in which they live.

    Read More

  • Beauty Essay: The Definition Of Beauty

    720 Words  | 2 Pages

    The definition of beauty is varying among different people in the world. Even though almost everyone knows the term beauty, many people are struggling in defining it and persuading others to agree with their opinions. Beauty is defined by a combination of qualities existent in a person or thing that fulfills the aesthetic feels or brings about profound gratification. Many people define beauty as a term to describe a person’s physical appearance; they often think that beauty comes from magazines, video girls, or even models. Although the term beauty can define a person’s physical appearance, true beauty lies in the way one acts and thinks rather than the way one look.

    Read More

  • Definition Essay: The True Meaning Of Beauty

    501 Words  | 2 Pages

    Beauty is a combination of likable qualities, such as shape, color, and form. Or at least that’s the most common definition. The second you see a stunning man or women you have already described them as beautiful. But soon you might realize you just described them based solely on what they look like, not what they act like. The word beauty is a well used word, with many different meanings.

    Read More

  • Beauty Essay

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Perception Of Beauty Essay

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • An Essay About Beauty

    1849 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • The Importance of Inner Beauty

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    “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.

    Read More

  • Beauty And Inner Beauty

    1152 Words  | 3 Pages

    The term “beauty” was originated from Anglo-French beute. It was first known used in the 14th century as “physical attractiveness,” and also “goodness, courtesy.” The meaning of beauty also came from several different places including: Old French biaute “beauty, seductiveness,

    Read More

More about The Vanity in Defining Beauty

Open Document