The concept of beauty varies from time to time, place to place, and subject to subject. While it is not inherently harmful, it can be used to discriminate against people. The pressure to be conventionally attractive, particularly in certain contexts, can be extreme, driving people to extreme lengths to achieve social expectations of beauty. Why is it that beauty is so important to societies when it has no practical applications whatsoever?
Personal appearance is the first thing most people notice when meeting another person. Therefore, despite potentially misleading assumptions they may draw about that person based on appearance, it makes sense why it could be considered important to some people. It is possible that people or groups of people make judgements on physical appearance because it is easier than forming a deeper relationship. However, this logic is obviously flawed and should not be encouraged.
Certain aspects of beauty standards are considered attractive because they represent a person’s health. At times, this may be a valid assertion, but considering the changes to notions of beauty over the years (some of which were extremely unhealthy), it is doubtful that this is the case. Further, “health” manifests itself differently for different people and can rarely be generalized so much.Â
The extreme value society places on beauty is emphasized by the phrase “beauty on the inside”. While well-intentioned, it still reinforces the notion that being “beautiful” is the most important thing. Other adjectives, such as smart, kind, sweet, healthy, successful, etc. can achieve the same goal of describing someone favorably (more specifically, for that matter), yet a word that describes appearance is used in their places.Â
Let’s face it: being good-looking is only useful in influencing how others perceive you. Additionally, what is considered “good-looking” changes over time. Being pretty doesn’t make anyone inherently better than anyone else. When you are alone, beauty doesn’t affect you at all, yet it seems to be put on a pedestal. Perhaps we would all be better off if we ceased promoting all concepts of beauty and ugliness rather than asserting universal beauty (or at least reserve the concept of beauty to self-determination).Â