The Beauty Myth

I really enjoyed our discussion and debate in yesterday’s class. However, I was quite surprised by the large amount of people in class, both men and women, who seriously disagreed with Naomi Wolf’s claims. I think it needs to be understood that Wolf’s concept of the beauty myth is not something that consciously occurs within the minds of women. Through pervasive, powerful images and messages within the media, the beauty myth has been created and developed; shaping our society’s definition of beauty. Contrary to what many in class yesterday were arguing, this is not something that you can just choose not to be affected by. This is not something that only “self-conscious or weak” women fall victim of, while others, the “strong, empowered ones” can simply resist or ignore. The beauty myth is a cultural definition, something we have all come to accept, men and women alike. Some strive for it, others do not, yet we have all been influenced by it and we all feel its affects. What we typically accept and understand to be beautiful within our society has been shaped by the beauty myth. As Wolf points out, different cultures at different times have all had varying definitions of what constitutes ideal beauty. Beauty is a cultural understanding. While other cultures have adopted more achievable, realistic definitions of beauty, our culture’s ideal is a difficult one to reach. I find it hard to believe that there are women in our society that do not feel the influences of the beauty myth. No matter what social class one belongs to or how comfortable and confident one may be with herself, the beauty myth is powerful and so is the human need to feel wanted, desired and attractive. Although I understand and agree that there are many women in our society that do not go to extreme measures to meet our culture’s beauty ideal, in my option, all women are, one why or another, affected by the beauty myth.