Let’s cut to the chase: beauty deems our worth in society. Though it is harsh, it is the truth of our world and the one we inevitably succumb to. It is easier if we mold ourselves to fit all of the curves and edges of society’s definition of “beautiful” since questioning these standards seems fruitless. However, not all hope is lost, as this reality has begun to change. We have become more aware of how racism permeates many aspects of our society and how beauty standards especially are subject to this. Features such as pale skin, small noses, and soft hair are unattainable for many of us, which is why they are so desirable- and damaging. Instead of trying to adhere to these standards of beauty, we should be trying to change the definition of what beauty is, and make it something all humans have, instead of something to chase after.
When I think of Eurocentric beauty standards, the first thing that comes to mind is Bollywood movies. As a child, I adored them for their random musical numbers and cheesy romantics. However, they were drastically different from the India I was accustomed to, particularly in one way. Whenever I would admire the actors and actresses, I wondered why they looked so, well, white. India is an incredibly diverse country, with people of all types of skin tones and features. Yet all the main characters had the same fair skin, and the Eurocentric standards were even more blatant for the women. Every heroine was nearly white with a thin nose, sending me, an impressionable nine-year-old, the message that having light skin and European features was necessary to be pretty. That the hero of every story had to look White.
Thankfully, I unlearned this bias. But in many countries, especially India, this heartbreaking idea is forced on women for their whole lives. It is why skin-bleaching creams are a booming industry, why many POC women get treatments to straighten their hair, and why rhinoplasties are so popular. It is because this idea of white features being the most desirable is enforced on us over and over, through countless outlets. Bollywood is far from the only perpetrator of this, as it is upheld through Hollywood, through Western culture, and has spread to far corners of the world. Unfortunately, most people don’t think much of it, because it is so ingrained in our society- just like racism. And to further prevent its harmful effects, we must consciously work to unlearn it.
Eurocentric beauty standards are rooted in colonialism and how white supremacy was upheld worldwide. Notable philosophers claimed that “whiteness is the ultimate definition of beauty,” turning beauty into something only attainable by Europeans. Though skin color was obviously the main factor, the beauty standards went beyond this. Small lips, a delicate face, and defined cheekbones were just a few of the stringent guidelines women were expected to follow in order to be considered attractive. While a substantial number of these remain, others have drastically changed. Still, it is without a doubt that the beauty standards in place primarily benefit white women. Another harsh truth is that our ideas of beauty are shaped by racism, which is another factor why it is so important to change the definition of beauty.
These standards, of course, have changed since the 1800’s. In the West, it is desirable to be tan and have big lips, and POC women are encouraged to embrace their natural hair. I think it is amazing that women are told that their natural selves are beautiful, but I also want to look at beauty from an alternate perspective- a nonchalant one. Nowadays, I always see ads encouraging women to love their “imperfections,” like hip dips and cellulite. It occurred to me once: do men even know what hip dips are? Why are women now told that the way to eradicate our insecurities is to make normal aspects of ourselves be considered “desirable”? It feels like we’re marketing our own bodies like salesmen, turning ourselves into products. This viewpoint challenges the concept of beauty altogether and seems so radically different from how we are told to view ourselves. It is an interesting question to ponder: is the best approach to bettering our self-image when it comes to physical appearance being nonchalant about it, or is it to fully embrace it?