Inconsistent Beauty
Image Courtesy: Project Vanity
The “ideal woman” has been adapted over time and altered in both minor and drastic ways. From short to tall, large chested to small chested, and thin eyebrows to bushy, there is no consistency in the beauty expectations that women are held to. Yet, they are expected to adapt their bodies and faces and skin tones to fit each new ideal every single time.
In the Regency Era, if women were seen with freckled faces, they were presumed to be poor because people would only venture into the sun if their jobs required it. Social elites were expected to remain pale and free of freckles to be considered beautiful. Now, girls get spray tans and draw on freckles with makeup pencils. Victorian Era paintings depict the most beautiful women as plump and full-faced with substantial bodies. The beauty standard revolved around the idea that people of elite society could afford to eat, and therefore should. Today, wealthy female influencers are sponsored by diet pills and juice cleanse companies.
Image Courtesy: Savoir Flair
Female bodies have been highly scrutinized as far back as records show. Since the start of the 20th century, the All American Woman has experienced numerous changes to body standards. In the early 1900s, women wanted to be large-chested with corseted waists. The 1920’s flappers had more androgynous features with short hair and flat chests. In the 30s, curves were beautiful, and, in the 40s, height and strength were idealized. The 1950s brought about Playboy, and the hourglass figure was born. The 60s reclaimed the ultra-thin body, and the 70s wanted women to stay skinny but have big boobs. The 1980s and 90s liked women to be fit and workout but stay lean, of course. The new century crafted an ideal image of a woman with 6-pack abs and a curvy backside.
There is an obvious inability to keep up with these ever-changing beauty standards. Even in the current moment, beauty standards aren’t singular. Women are held to varying ideals across the globe. Western society praises women who are tall and busty with attractive facial features. South American standards focus solely on how toned and curvy a woman’s backside is. The French value a natural woman, and, in Korea, skin is a woman’s top priority. Beauty rituals in Burma and New Zealand leave women with elongated necks and tattoos as a requirement to reach ideal beauty. There is no singular way in which women can achieve universal beauty.
Image Courtesy: Preview
There is no one body type, facial structure, skin tone, or makeup routine that will deem a woman beautiful across time and space. Beauty standards come and go as all trends do, and no woman can be expected to change for them. However, some consistently attractive traits are confidence, positive energy, and kindness. Your character is constantly of value even when surface-level beauty is not. Embrace the body you were given and radiate beauty from the inside out. A good heart never goes out of style.
Strike Out,
Writer: Sarah Gibson
Editor: Breanna Tang
Tallahassee