Is Beauty a Result of Facial Features - Essay Example

Defining Beauty While there is a degree of proof that indicates our definition of beauty is inborn as a result of the symmetrical arrangement of facial features, the genetic development of a proportional body or the individual attractiveness of hair or eye color, there is far more evidence that our definitions of beauty are formed by our society. While today’s society envisions the beautiful as something in the order of Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan, statuary evidence from the Paleolithic era indicates that people’s definition of beautiful might have been closer to the obese proportions of the Venus of Willendorf. While beauty might have once been truly ‘in the eye of the beholder’, today’s society has beauty defined for it by the overwhelming challenges of the mass media. These messages of the media are so consistent they overwhelm any natural sense of beauty, which is important to our sense of identity and social value. Throughout the history of mankind, humans have projected who and what they are, including their relative social position, through their outward appearance. Study after study has demonstrated people dress a certain way and strive to acquire specific items as a means of signifying that they belong to a particular desirable subset of individuals who also embody their individual ideals (Gilman, 1999). Regardless of whether one has always been a part of this subset or not, it is presumed that an outer appearance in keeping with this group will automatically purchase the coveted membership. In the past few centuries, however, the standard definition for female beauty has had detrimental effects on the feminine identity. “Women view their bodies as ‘objects of work’ requiring attention and upkeep in order to operate well and promote the desired effect” (Gillen, 2001). Actresses such as Jamie Lee Curtis, long admired as the epitome of the dynamite female figure, make it clear that meeting this appearance standard is not a guarantee to achieving happiness (Jones, 2002). Although held as the prime example of feminine beauty by today’s standards, this actress has said that she suffered through several significant self-esteem issues and must still face the inevitable changes of aging. “Research in the UK suggests that the wealthier we are, the more likely we are to dislike our body. Experts think there’s more pressure on the wealthy to achieve the thin 'ideal' because they have the money to do so and are more exposed to media images” (Rebecca, 2006). Because the wealthy are expected to be able to achieve this ideal, those who are not so wealthy often struggle to attain the beauty ideal as a means of signifying that they belong within the ranks of the wealthy. Within the past few years, televisions have been inundated with so-called ‘make-over’ shows in which the focus is precisely for the media to inform the public regarding what is considered beautiful or desirable. These shows promise an improved exterior facade to participants’ bodies, fashion sense, faces, homes, lifestyles, etc. that will bring the individual into closer similarity to the ideal image and thus make it possible for them to achieve a higher level of happiness. This ‘ideal’ image is usually envisioned as someone in their mid-20s, slender almost to the point of skeletal, with specific body measurements at the bust and hips and a specific ‘good-looking’ charm that usually includes blonde hair and a friendly demeanor. This limited view of the ideal obviously eliminates anyone who might have been born with larger bones or other ‘defects’ that resist the reshaping of the plastic surgeon’s scalpel from being accepted into the socially acceptable. Makeovers on TV illustrate the unacceptable qualities of the average individual and emphasize the importance of bringing the individual image more in line with a perceived social ideal that is communicated through the same media channel. It is thus perceived that the only way for individuals to find happiness and fulfillment is through adherence to this media-defined social ideal, causing an extreme focus on the outward appearance as it is defined by these shows to the detriment of the inner being. Reality shows also provide insight regarding the concept of beauty as it is perceived by the average individual. Because these types of shows emphasize the idea that they are for entertainment purposes only, they are easily overlooked as shallow embodiments of a new development in materialism. However, these trends are not necessarily the superficial manifestations they appear to be as the ideas contained within them become translated into the realities of the individuals living within the viewing public. “Recently, televised ‘makeovers’ – in which a member of the public is plucked from obscurity and transformed, by virtue of clever hair, make-up and style consultants, into a glamorous creature – have become popular … Documentaries that follow the progress of raw recruits into shining professionals also reflect the concept of change and metamorphosis inherent in makeovers” (Gillen, 2001). Playing to modern culture’s conceptions of beauty and our insecurities regarding who and what we are in relation to the rest of society, these programs are a perfect mirror of the concept that possession of a beautiful body has the ability to transform the lives of any member of society with little to no regard for deeper matters such as self-esteem, talent, ability, intelligence or any other definition of beauty one might care to develop. Doctoral candidate Angela Dancey (Weintraub, 2001) points out that these shows work to deny they are about the appearance by including talk of psychotherapeutic and inspirational tales of rebirth, “but what you’re seeing and what they’re saying are very different.” The problem of defining beauty solely by what the media tells us we should focus on does not exist solely in the minds of the teenagers as might be believed. In most cases these ideals are perpetuated by the mothers, who are constantly in pursuit of the teenage waist or the wrinkle free complexion so that they might still meet the beauty ideal as well. Still defining themselves according to a media-defined conception of beauty, these aging women are incapable of finding beauty in their appearance as it is and instead continue to seek slimming surgeries, face-lifts and body enhancements (Rubin, 2006). The woman who looks the youngest, wears the smallest dress size and is able to attract the youngest man is the winner of the ever-present beauty contest that shapes and defines a woman’s conception of herself. The concept that youthful beauty automatically means youthful feelings, youthful energy and youthful desirability is wide-spread and helps to drive the ideal beauty concept. This fixation on the perfect form for the older crowd as a way of standing out against their contemporaries translates to the younger generation as beauty being a requirement to achieving personal success and recognition. “The reinforcement of moms depressed about her weight because they don’t look like magazine models, makes it even more likely for the daughters to be unhappy with their bodies” (Gustafson, 2005). The tendency for older women to seek surgery after surgery also illustrates the fact that regardless of the level of perfection achieved, women remain unsatisfied and unhappy with the way they appear, meaning beauty remains elusive even for the most beautiful. Reinforced by the ideas and activities of their parents, surrounded by role models that have little more than looks in their favor and still leading fabulous fairytale lives as depicted on television and having these concepts reinforced by the skillful manipulations seen in reality shows, teenagers have little option but to believe that the ideal form, carefully constructed in the plastic surgeon’s chair, is the only way to acceptance and happiness in today’s world. The idea that beauty may buy ones happiness is a popular myth perpetuated through such practices, but proof that it is a lie can be found everywhere. As women continue to spend more and more in pursuit of an image they will never achieve and even the most beautiful women as defined by the media admit to being miserable in their personal lives, it becomes clear that the true nature of beauty remains elusive. Inherent senses of what beauty means to the individual are drowned out by the images and beliefs pawned off by the media in which impossible standards are set to the detriment of individual psychological health. Works Cited Gillen, Kate. “Choosing an Image: Exploring Women’s Image Through the Personal Shopper.” Through the Wardrobe. Eds. Ali Guy, Maura Benim & Eileen Green. London: Berg, 2001: pp. 71-93. Gilman, Sander L. Making the Body Beautiful: A Cultural History of Aesthetic Surgery. Princeton University Press, 1999. Gustafson, Rod. “Parenting and the Media.” Parents Television Council Publications. January 18, 2005. Jones, Chris. “Jamie Lee Curtis: The Body Beautiful?” BBC News. (August 23, 2002). May 2, 2011 Rebecca. “Body Beautiful.” British Council Russia. British Council, 2006. Rubin, Rita. “Breast Implants Catching on with Soccer Moms.” Tampa Bays 10 News. December 19, 2006. May 2, 2011 Weintraub, Joanne. “Makeover Shows Selling Fairy Tales.” Journal Sentinal TV Critic. 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