Role of White Standards of Beauty - Literature review Example

Role of White Standards of Beauty One form of indirect or subtle ‘racism’ that is prevalent in the contemporary world is how white skin complexionis regarded as the standard for beauty.. However, this distorted notion of beauty standards impacts certain individuals’ life, culture, identity and self-esteem. There have been many literatures created incorporating this social concept, focusing on the individuals, particularly ones with black skin complexion, who suffer and endure due to society’s fascination for white beauty. The role of white standards of beauty is depicted well in Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Toi Derricotte’s The Black Notebooks. Both the authors show how the characters are subjected to the established but dubious societal standards of beauty, and are also pressured to conform to its ideals in different ways. As the standards of beauty are perceived through the skin color of the characters in both the novels, it induces them into losing their own culture and personal identity. The society’s rigid white standards of beauty pressures the individuals to either conform to it or try to adapt to it, and when individuals struggle to do that, it ultimately brings devastating effects on their lives. Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye describes the longings of a young black girl, Pecola Breedlove, who struggles to endure in a society dominated by the white standards of beauty. She is constantly reminded of her black nature, which she assumes to be uglier, as perceived from the society’s standards. Pecola’s desire to be white with blue eyes is fueled by the society’s notion of beauty standards. She aspires to get to the unreachable white standards of the society, which makes her life more miserable. “Pecola attempts to mediate the distance between the misperception and misrecognition of her body and the ideal of Mary Jane whiteness.” (Gaines). Her attempts to conform to the white standards of the society are the ultimate cause for the devastating effects in her life. Similarly, in The Black Notebooks Toi Derricotte presents the memoirs of her anguish and ambivalence as a black woman with white skin. Although her light-skinned and straight-haired appearance kind of gives ‘pass’ for her in the whites’ society, she is still lost with the inner dilemma that constantly urges her that she is black first. Derricotte’s experiences clearly shows her inner struggles with the fact that she is accepted as someone, which she is not. Her exploration of feelings as a white-skinned ‘black’ within and outside her community is accompanied with frustrating experiences which reveals the negative effects of society’s white standards of beauty. The white standard of beauty impacts the self-esteem and identity of the individuals. In The Bluest Eye, it can be observed that Pecola is obsessed of becoming more and more beautiful, particularly white skinned with blue eyes, which she assumes to be the standard of beauty. Her lack of self-esteem is attributed to her black color which she feels inferior and the cause of all problems. She thinks that achieving society’s white standard of beauty will bring happiness to her family. Pecola’s this “culpability of images represents others and other families as worthwhile,” while she views “herself and her own as ugly.” (Holloway 68). However, the impossibility in reaching that standard of beauty makes her unhappy and frustrated with life. Similarly, Derricotte, who had endured struggles to maintain her self-esteem, now, struggles to preserve her children’s sense of pride. She desired to ward off the ‘crime of the skin’ from the minds of her children, trying hard to maintain their individuality and self-esteem. It is obvious that the loss of self-esteem would negatively impact the lives of the individuals, bringing long-run detriments. Racism caused by the white standard of beauty creates hatred not only of others but also of self. Because of the racial discrimination experienced by the characters in both the novels, they tend to hate themselves, as well as others. It can be evident from Pecola’s misrepresented personal identity of hers for being black. The inchoate desire that Pecola forms regarding beauty causes her to hate herself as well as everyone who is black. “This mulatto girl hates her mother ‘cause she is black and ugly.” (Morrison 52). Similarly, the experiences of Derricotte capture the reality behind her white skinned beauty, as she undergoes distress and dilemma with her inner consciousness. The internalized racism faced by her contributes widely to her fears, shames, and repulsions and to the most, induces self-hate that exists throughout a lifetime. The social standards of beauty owes to the existence of racial difference in the society, which in turn influences the individuals. Pecola is seen to experience major devastations in her life, mainly because of the racial discrimination. Similarly, in The Black Notebooks, the author portrays the mixed emotions of Derricotte, who is faced with uncomfortable situations in the society regarding racial discrimination, but does not face it by herself as she is white-skinned and assumed not to be a black. For instance, when a man in the bus disregards a fellow black and comes to sit near her, she is sickened with the truth. The reality strikes her with the fact that she is also a black, but is unknowingly accepted because of her white skin. She expresses her emotions as “If I spoke, I would make myself vulnerable. If I didn’t, I would be a coward, a betrayer of my people.” (Derricotte 26). It could be evident that racial difference causes detrimental effects, both physically and emotionally to the individuals. Social acceptance is primarily based on the white standards of beauty. The society in which both the novels revolve expects the members to conform to its standards of beauty. In case of Derricotte, her mind often oscillates between the society’s acceptance and her conscious reality, making her lose her own black identity and self-esteem in an effort to conform to the society’s standards of beauty. Her rights and freedoms within the society was constantly “assured by virtue of her whiteness that shes safe and valued.” (Demott). Similarly, Geraldine in The Bluest Eyes is an example for the devastating effects that would occur when one conforms or tries to adapt to the beauty standards of the society. On the process of conforming to the social standards of beauty, Gerandine abandons her own identity and culture, and finally destroys her relationship with the family members. Respect and acceptance is based primarily on these white standards, which Derricotte successfully passes through, while Pecola falls short. Pecola is fixated to reach that white standard of beauty, to gain respect and acceptance within the society, which she assumes would solve all of her family problems. However, in the end, she is ultimately left unhappy, unsatisfied and unaccepted, as she could never reach the standards of beauty that she aspires. On the other hand, Claudia rages on the society’s white standard of beauty, learning that black has no value in the American culture. Her self-hate is expressed through the destroying of white dolls implying that the society values not the individual but the skin color, and feels socially inferior, unaccepted and ugly. In both the novels, the society’s white standards of beauty are prevalent in different ways, bringing impacts that are devastating to the lives of the characters. It is evident that the characters struggle in a society where the skin color is treated as a standard of beauty rather than the individuals themselves. It could also be obvious that racial discrimination, social acceptance and respect are fueled through these white standards of beauty. While Derricotte ‘passes’ the white community’s standards of beauty, she still struggles with her inner conscious that reflects her own race. Similarly, Pecola, Geraldine and Claudia are all caught in the society’s standards, trying hard to reach the so-called beauty norms. However, the efforts of the characters to conform or reach those standards seem to bring detrimental effects to their lives. Works Cited Demott, Benjamin. “Passing: A Black Poet and Teacher Chronicles Life in a White World.” The New York Times, 2 Nov 1997. Web. 25 May 2014. Derricotte, Toi. The Black Notebooks: An Interior Journey. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999. Gaines, Alisha. Spectacles of American Liberalism: Narratives of Racial Im/posture. Diss. Duke University, 2009. Holloway, Karla F. C. Reading in Black and White: a Memoir. Rutgers University Press 2006. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. Knopf, 2000. Read More