How Society's Beauty Standards Impact Women

Have you ever felt pressured to look a certain way? Do you wonder why society's beauty standards seem so narrow and unrealistic?

In her book Women Don't Owe You Pretty, Florence Given explores how societal beauty standards impact women's self-worth and identity. She challenges these norms and encourages readers to embrace their authentic selves, free from the constraints of society's expectations.

Keep reading to discover how you can break free from harmful beauty ideals and cultivate genuine self-confidence.

The Impact of Societal Beauty Standards on Women

The Male Gaze and Beauty Norms

Have you ever wondered why you feel compelled to wear makeup, remove body hair, or dress a certain way? These choices often stem from societal beauty standards, which are shaped by what's known as "the male gaze" – a concept that views beauty through a masculine lens. Western culture's beauty standards unfairly favor whiteness, cisgender identities, and slimness while often disregarding individuals with disabilities.

The relentless pursuit of these ideals, deeply ingrained with racism and fatphobia, compels people to seek what's called 'attractiveness advantage.' This advantage stems from the reduction of women to mere objects and distorted perspectives. It's a harsh reality that women are often expected to exhibit femininity solely for male satisfaction.

Challenging Beauty Expectations

It's time to challenge the notion that you must act in specific ways to earn basic respect or modify your appearance to meet a certain beauty ideal. Conforming to sexist jokes and displaying feminine characteristics are signs of adhering to standards established by a male-dominated society. Phrases like "boys will be boys" frequently serve as justifications for male actions, which in turn reinforces gender-based stereotypes.

The capitalist framework turns women's looks into commodities and pressures them to spend money to preserve their attractiveness. But you don't owe anyone prettiness. Accepting your natural body hair, for instance, can be viewed as a defiance of these societal norms influenced by male-dominated standards of beauty.

The Pressure on Marginalized Communities

It's important to recognize that marginalized communities, including ethnic minority women and transgender women, experience intensified pressures to conform strictly to social standards associated with their gender. These groups often face more stringent demands to adhere to conventional standards of beauty.

Campaigns like #SaggyBoobsMatter and #TransIsBeautiful across different digital spaces foster an environment that encourages individuals to embrace and rejoice in their true identities. The trans community, in particular, celebrates a diverse spectrum of femininity, showcasing a multitude of ways to express an individual's gender identity.

Breaking Free From Beauty Standards

Embracing Your True Self

Feminism encourages you to transcend harmful standards and beliefs by recognizing that beauty serves as a type of societal currency. It's about embracing the opportunity to expand your viewpoints and develop through new understanding. This journey may lead to solitude, as it requires the courage to go beyond the anticipations of friends and family in the quest for individual satisfaction and the forging of a unique path.

By acknowledging your accountability and consciously regulating your actions, you can overcome the internalized feelings of guilt and uncertainty that are a result of societal norms. This means abandoning the chase for approval from external sources, including social media platforms and interpersonal relationships.

Cultivating Self-confidence

Nurturing authentic self-appreciation and protecting your vitality by rejecting societal expectations about looks can enhance your confidence. Valuing your own perspective and setting personal boundaries is a significant act of self-care. You gain empowerment by recognizing that your value is independent of your allure, a significant milestone in your personal growth.

Embracing every aspect of who you are can lead to deeper relationships with others and improve your self-relationship. Engaging in self-care practices can bolster your sense of self-worth, which in turn nurtures a deep-rooted feeling of self-respect.

Redefining Beauty on Your Terms

Exploring Gender and Sexuality

The journey to redefine beauty often involves exploring new dimensions of gender and sexuality. This can mean challenging conventional stories and assumptions associated with heterosexual norms. It's about recognizing that gender, like sexuality, exists on a broad spectrum rather than a binary system.

You have the right to assert your autonomy in dating and intimacy. This means preserving your independence within personal relationships and rejecting the idea that you should settle for anything less than reciprocal respect and esteem. It's about having the sovereignty to establish boundaries and make choices about your own body and way of living, without facing judgment.

Embracing Diverse Identities

Recognizing the broad range of gender identities and the diversity of sexual orientations is crucial in redefining beauty standards. This includes fostering open dialogues on sexuality and desire, and acknowledging that identities include individuals who are drawn to both genders, those who do not feel sexual attraction at all, and those whose sense of their own gender is fluid.

By scrutinizing your inherent biases and privileges, you can better understand the systemic challenges faced by individuals from marginalized groups. This involves prioritizing the viewpoints of individuals from underrepresented groups and supporting a holistic view of feminism that recognizes how various aspects of identity can intersect to create unique forms of discrimination and injustice.

In the end, redefining beauty is about creating a space where you can genuinely express yourself without encountering bias or criticism. It's about recognizing that your worth isn't tied to your appearance or your ability to meet societal beauty standards. You're valuable just as you are, and that's a beautiful thing.