The Cult of Beauty
Why are we obsessed with how we look?
Whether we are selecting the perfect pieces from our wardrobe, brushing up on our makeup and skin care, or purchasing items to enhance our beauty, we are obsessed with how we look. We all have spent countless minutes, even hours, in front of the mirror making sure everything about our appearance is on point- hoping that no one can recognize the stray hair, the hidden pimple, or the ill-fitting pants. The real question is: Why do we care so much and when did this all start?
Clothing
Throughout history, the way we dress has always defined status and class. Whether we adorned ourselves with lavish gowns or rocked luxury brands, clothes have helped distinguish who’s “with the times”. The modern day obsession with brands and trends has widened the gap between classes. We have come to a place where the word “Gucci” or the symbol “LV” equates itself with prestige, when in reality, they are merely products. This does not discount their long history and craftsmanship over time, but rather we are willing to pay thousands even tens of thousands for a name. In relation to mass consumerism, there is a mutualistic correlation between brand name, notoriety and quantity in reference to a person's status. The more a person can afford, the higher praise they are given. This is where we start to see brand envy- causing cheap knock-offs to achieve a sense of self fulfillment and a fake outwards expression of wealth.
Although today there is still a desire for brand recognition, amongst Gen. Z, there has been a rise in embracing personal style. Through the power of social media, people are able to showcase their personal styles and collections of clothes. This allows for creators to play with their own style and for viewers to appreciate the variety of dress that exists in the world. Not only do creators have a platform to be supported by peers, but additionally viewers are able to cherry-pick ideas and inspiration and craft their own style. The social media aspect is a double edge sword, as it both works to uplift style but allows those who disagree with people’s standard of beauty and style to attack things that do not conform.
We always strive to look and feel our best, whether that is through what we wear or how we wear things. Clothes give us a chance to experiment with individuality and figure out what works the best for us and what makes us feel like ourselves.
Appearance
Perpetuated by models, media, and magazines, we are constantly looking at our bodies as something that needs to be changed. The general expectation now is for women to be curvy yet thin and men to be disproportionately strong, both defying what the human body needs to be doing. The extent people go through to make themselves meet these expectations borders the question of if it's all worth it, and to some it is. Constantly being hyper-exposed to content that makes us aware of our shortcomings, beating down on our psyche, and making us believe that everything that we are is wrong and worthless. This mentality has become ever so prevalent in the past 30 or so years with the introduction of social media. Of course social media isn’t all to blame, but always seeing pictures of unattainable features creates a desire to conform to those standards. Between starving oneself, binge eating, excessive exercise, plastic surgeries, and extreme diets- people believe that there is a correlation between happiness and conformity- hoping that a certain weight or shape will fulfill them. In reality that’s not the case. The more and more we chase, the more we desire and will be unhappy until we are practically a shell of a human. People devote their entire life to reach a certain lifestyle, when in reality they miss out on what really makes life worth living.
My thought: Be healthy, don’t deprive yourself from the pleasures of life. Have that piece of cake and enjoy every part of it. There is no point in making yourself unhappy in life, you only have one.
Additionally, our complexion is one feature that humans tend to critique and nit-pick beyond what is in our control. Thanks to the beauty industry, we have now created products to treat a myriad of issues, real and fictitious. This includes both creams and serums all the way to surgical procedures. We are made to believe that there is a certain way we should all look and people will do anything to meet that idea. With the rise of the “self-care” phenomenon, people are blowing through products and treatments at any expense, causing financial, ecological, and psychologic pain. These products aren’t cheap, but people’s desire to meet others' expectations has no limits. The amount of videos online that recommend a certain product or treatment because it will magically “change your appearance” is insane and are expertly crafted. These videos prey on people with low self esteem as they believe this “thing” will miraculously change their lives. Although completely changing your appearance might seem like the way to get that “fresh start”, it is never worth it to change for others who do not support you. If you desire a change, look introspectively and question why you want to change and make sure you are doing it for yourself.
My thoughts
I think our view of beauty is rather twisted. From an early age, no matter your race or sex, we have hefty expectations placed upon our shoulders. From a men’s perspective, we are told to be masculine, to play sports, to bulk up, and as someone who has been through that, it sucks. When you are told to be something you are not, you start to hate yourself for what you are. You diet, lift weights, try to deepen your voice, and even attempt to grow at least 3 more inches, but no matter what, you cannot hide from your reality. Now, looking outward in, all I see is the kids who are told to be 5 or even 10 years older than their actual age. They are skipping those awkward years and pushing prematurely into being a teen, missing the times where they could be playing dress-up or tag. It’s sad, and I feel for them. I feel for the kids who were born with a device in their grasp. The social media that they scroll through twists and perverts their perceptions of themselves, causing a sinking desire for change. Even as an adult, we are fed glorified images that make us detest what we see in the mirror, pushing us further and further from our true selves. In reality, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Although we may roll our eyes when we hear that, there is some truth in that statement. At times, we may feel as though we are the sole being on this desolate blue ball, destined to live alone with our made up atrocities. In reality, it is all in our head. We seem to inflate our imperfections, wanting to hide or fix them as much as possible, but truly those are what make us stand out. Whether it's a crooked nose or teeth or not meeting a conventional size, our imperfections give us character and make us more than just a person. It is with this that I hope my generation stops looking at ourselves as beings that constantly need to change, but rather as something similar to “art”- a beauty with imperfections and all.
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