Turning Beauty Inside Out

We live in a time where beauty is often defined as the physical value of another person. Popular culture and advertising portray models, actresses, and athletes as the epitome of beauty. However, this perspective is flawed because it relies on outward appearances to define our sense of worth. We are all beautiful in various ways: we each have our own individual relationships with ourselves, others and the world around us.

In this blog post about turning beauty inside out, I will deconstruct how popular culture portrays beauty; how these definitions can lead people to struggle with their body image; and how to build self-esteem through compassion for oneself.

Popular Culture's Definition of Beauty

In America, we idolize the beauty of youth. We also value women who possess a slim, athletic build as our definition of beauty. Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian are two examples of well-known celebrities that fit these criteria for ideal beauty. However, when people age and/or their bodies develop different shapes than what is considered attractive, they fall out of favor with society. For example, Kate Winslet is the epitome of a beautiful woman in her mid 30s; however she was chosen to play the role of a 50-year-old mother instead in the movie "The Reader.

We also value thinner people as the ideal. People who are underweight are considered a "thinner ideal." In the media, women are portrayed in a variety of ways. They can be portrayed to have a curvy figure or even having no body shape at all. These depictions of thinness and curviness present an unrealistic expectation for how the bodies should look. Not only do these portrayals distort reality, but they are also damaging to the esteem of millions of people whose bodies do not fit these categories.

Because our society idolizes youth, it is often seen as unethical for women to show their true age through their face and body. When women are in their 30s and 40s, they are often seen as "unattractive" or "old." The ideal of beauty, when thought about in this way, does not allow for many people who have become older to be viewed positively. On the other hand, young people are celebrated for the ability to maintain the body through thick and thin. Because of this attitude toward age, people who look older tend to be seen as less attractive than their younger counterparts.

The Ideal Body and Self-Esteem

If we take into consideration perfect ideals of beauty then it is easy to understand why there is such a problem with body image among girls. Our culture has doled out the message that the ideal body is thin and, yes, even younger. However, the body image of women, young and old are not the only area in which our society has distorted reality.

The ideal body has been very different throughout time. In ancient Greece beauty was believed to come through physical perfection. The woman who could show off her perfect physique was considered most beautiful. They would wear a variety of clothes as well as items designed to enhance their physical perfection. These women were considered superior, especially because they made themselves into an object for men's desire. Modern examples of the ideal body still exist today. The role model for perfect beauty is a slim, young woman.

Fear of looking older and not fitting the standard of beauty has led millions of people to try and hold on to youth as long as possible. This is why women in their late 30s and even early 40s often feel insecure about their looks. In fact, for many women, hidden features such as wrinkles can cause a lot of stress. Most people have insecurities about themselves each day; however an inability to accept ones aging or physical changes is a much more serious situation than most realize. Insecurities about their bodies and the aging process can lead women to engage in dangerous behaviors, such as excessive dieting or plastic surgery. Many women who undergo these surgeries suffer from lasting health issues that are caused by plastic surgery. For example, an infection of one's breast implants is life threatening.

The obsession with youth and body image has affected men as well as woman. Health problems associated with the ideal body include eating disorders and steroid use among athletes who wish to appear thinner or more muscular than they are naturally. In fact, somewhere between 12-17% of high school athletes are using steroids because they do not have a strong self-esteem and feel inferior compared to other athletes who they view as superior because of their physical abilities.

A Change in Perspective and Self-Esteem

Many people who struggle with their body image have never tried to challenge their perspective. They may have an idea that there is something wrong with their perception of beauty, but they do not know how to change it. Many times people just assume that the world is "the way it is," and therefore assume that these strict definitions of beauty are correct. However, there are other ways to think about the ideal body type. For instance, in Japan the slim ideal does not apply because women with large breasts are thought to be more attractive. This is not to say that these women are considered more beautiful than others, only that they are thought to be more attractive in comparisons to other women.

The way in which we view beauty is a very personal thing. It is something that people do not really think about because they have never really looked at it from any other angle. In order to become comfortable with being different and being perceived as less beautiful, we must be willing to try new perspectives on the ideal body type and our own self-esteem. If this does not work for us, then we should seek professional help through either a therapist or a counselor.

The way in which we view beauty is a very personal thing. It is something that people do not really think about because they have never really looked at it from any other angle. In order to become comfortable with being different and being perceived as less beautiful, we must be willing to try new perspectives on the ideal body type and our own self-esteem. If this does not work for us, then we should seek professional help through either a therapist or a counselor.

Living With Insecurities About Your Body and Image

While most people are aware of the negative effects that an emphasis on youth and beauty can have on ones self-esteem, many do not take proactive steps to combat these problems. One of the issues with the way in which society views beauty is that it often leads to people trying to change themselves or trying to hide their physical imperfections. Many people feel that they cannot be comfortable with their physical self and may try to change as many things as possible in an effort to make them feel more adequate. This can lead to regret and greater feelings of inadequacy.

While an excessive focus on looking young is common, there are many other ways in which women will try to hide their aging process. It is not uncommon for a woman who does not like her wrinkles, for example, to cover them with makeup or some other cosmetic product.

Conclusion

If you suffer from a negative body image or society's views on the perfect body, you should not feel ashamed or inferior about yourself. It is important to realize that there are so many other aspects of ourselves that are important besides outward appearances. Do not let your beliefs about your own attractiveness make you miss out on the special moments in life. There is no need to try and hide who you are because of society's views on beauty. If society was as accepting of differences as it claims, then we would all be able to live up to the idealistic expectations set by these beauty standards and be considered beautiful.