Preview

Definitions of Beauty

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
428 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Definitions of Beauty
What makes a woman beautiful? Today our society has turned beauty into something that is unrealistic. Many are familiar with features that classify a woman as beautiful such as having a pretty face, flawless skin, skinny figure and sparkling eyes. However, each of us has our own perception of beauty. Everyone has different tastes. We have certain features that we like and dislike, which makes it difficult to define what beauty truly is. If we cannot agree on what traits define beauty, then how can a woman discover their own? The problem is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this is never more true than seen over time and between different cultures. Over time, our concept of beauty seems to fluctuate. Sometimes favoring rather heavy individuals and at other times very skinny ones.The beauty concept on this way are often corresponding to the way looks correlate with wealth. For example, during eras when food was scarce, excess flesh was seen as a sign of wealth and therefore of beauty. However, today, with fattening food cheap and plentiful, being thin is a sign of someone who has the time to eat right and exercise, and therefore is a sign of wealth, with obesity looked upon as a sign of lower economic status. In different cultures, parts of the body may be purposefully exaggerated in the name of beauty, the effects of which might even seem strange to those of another culture. Western & Eastern beauty concept… In the West, we have a very fixed idea of what beauty comprises. To have a chance of being considered beautiful, women must be tan, tall, slim, and youthful, have large breasts small waists and have long hair. There is a Western influence felt today by civilizations. The entertainment and media industries in Europe and America have become experts in presenting and promoting a fixed definition of beauty to the world. For the Eastern, in many Southeast Asian countries, the fairness of skin is considered to be a definition of beauty. Unlike

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    beauty may ultimately be subjective and unique for every human, there are clear cultural trends…

    • 3971 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The way beauty is measured is bizarre if anything, in some cultures having an outrageously long neck or having many piercings is attractive. In our culture we consider beauty being boarder line anorexic and having so much makeup on that a sudden…

    • 596 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Throughout the decades of time, society has been continuously determining the perception of what it is to be "beautiful." The American standard of beauty is often reflected upon advertisements that convey an unrealistic expectation for most everyday women. Whereas, teenagers have grown to interpret advertisements as a model for how they should appear physically. Marilyn Monroe was perceived as the epitome of beauty in the 1950s. The well-known sex symbol was recognized because of her curvaceous build. But for instance, Twiggy, a popular model in the midst of the 1960s, later set a misconstrued standard to what was beautiful. With the rising of her stardom, the glamorization of being thin was beginning to take a turn on a more positive note. That is until the famous 90s heroin chic model, Kate Moss, hit the scene taking the modeling industry by storm in an unhealthy manner with her campaign "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." As time continues to inevitably move forward in American culture, as will the image and conception of what beauty truly is in the eyes of our society.…

    • 1245 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beauty in all of its intricate aspects, can be misinterpreted, judged, and crushed to its very core for the same reasons it was once praised. Society diminishes the prominence of beauty, while simultaneously inflicting pressure on the eradication of its imperfections. Women, nowadays, rely on more than just water, soap, and self-confidence to fabricate the mask society deems as pragmatic, and truly necessary. Although the misconception of the physical qualities possessing the upper level in the hierarchical scale of beauty has blindsided millions, there is time remaining to instill the concepts of authentic beauty, according to the article by Nicole James. Knowledge does not necessarily amplify wisdom, and therefore despite the exponentially…

    • 434 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It is said that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” This means that everyone defines beauty differently. The dictionary defines beauty as “the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind.” There have another point about image of beauty which is wealthy. Most of the time people define beauty depending on their culture and usually uniqueness. For example, many white people want to their tan, and many Asian people want to whiten their skin. When comparing American and Chinese images of beauty using the physical characteristics, personality, and extrinsic factors, one sees more similarity than different.…

    • 852 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but sometimes it is in the eye of the culture. When it comes to beauty, what is accepted as beauty socially is often very different from what is accepted in different cultures. According to the textbook, defining culture as a separate thing from society often breeds cultural stereotypes, because there are no definitive ways to pinpoint cultural behavior to any one set of people. Nevertheless, there are noticeable distinctions, though not definitive; when discussing what is beautiful sometimes produces controversy, as evidenced in an article recently published and removed from the website in Psychology Today entitled “Why are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women?” Historically, a well-rounded, female body was a symbol of health, wealth, and fertility. In today’s society, a slim, petite woman, is often the feminine idea of beauty, however, some cultures still prefer a more curvaceous silhouette.…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Marilyn Monroe Beauty

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages

    For each generation, there has been a different aesthetic on what is required in order to make an individual beautiful. During the height of the Grecian period, to be curvy and voluptuous was extremely attractive. This idea of beauty was also true during the 40’s and 50’s in the United States. Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of regal beauty around the world. There is a huge difference between now and the past, because in past, the possibility of escaping these images was a realistic achievement. However, today it’s merely impossible to live up to the thin, emaciated super model images presented on billboards and in magazines. The media and society has placed pressure on teenage girls that if they are not thin, men will not find them desirable. How many women grow to be 5’9” to 6 feet tall? Not on the average, because most American women are 5’4” to 5’6” on an average. Models like Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner weighs about 105 to 112 pounds. However, the average American woman weighs about 140 to 160 pounds. Being that this reality is what exists in our society, it’s no wonder that the influences of modern-day society’s idea of…

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    America's True Beauty

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In Asia they squeeze the heads of children between boards to make them square, others prefer the shape of a “sugar-loaf” which is the highest form of beauty to them. In these various countries the opinion to respect their beauty should be highly fair, you should never judge a different type of beauty based on their culture and how they see beauty. Some Americans that look at other types of beauty around the world, figure none can compare to the way America defines beauty. For example, “Neither the buona roba of the Italians, nor the linda if the Spaniards, nor the embonpoint of the French, can fully reach the mystical standard of beauty to the eye of American taste”…

    • 795 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    If you ask your grandparents or even your parents what images they saw in the media when they were younger, you would be astonished. Women were not getting nose jobs or exercising everyday. Men were not working out at the gym everyday to get tone and fit like the famous people. People were actually content with the way they look because the media did not make an image of “perfection”. For example, Marilyn Monroe was considered America’s most beautiful girl. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Even though she was not the skinniest girl out there, society admired her voluptuous curves. The majority of women today do not admire their natural thickness. They need to wear the smallest size possible and not have any fat on their bodies, but is that actual beauty? Many would agree and many would…

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Definition Essay Beauty

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Beauty can be defined by various attributes. Some people believe beauty lies in the physical being of a person while others believe that beauty lies within. I believe that beauty encompasses both aspects, but inner beauty is the most important.…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Scientist has determined that the most beautiful celebrities have the most facial symmetry. The beauty of people is also based on how they act as it is to looks. The best looking people become hideous if they act that way and vice versa. That is a fact that anyone can anyone can agree to, but beauty is not just in people. Beauty to me is enjoying things that are heard, seen, or read, something that leaves an impression.…

    • 543 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    It reminds me of this T.V. show that aired for a bit starring Jessica Simpson, where she’d go around the world and see how other cultures defined what’s beautiful. In comparison to this country, it is truly astounding to learn what other traditions perceive as attractive. In Asia, they prefer their women to be as white as snow. The paler you are, the prettier. So women over there actually bleach their skin and invest tons of money in white paint for their faces to appear the prettiest. While here in America, we have this grave obsession with being as tan as possible. In Fiji, the biggest woman is the most prized, while here people are literally dying to be skinny idolizing supermodel stature. So what really is the true meaning of beauty? Is there no unified meaning we can all agree on…

    • 1017 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What Is Beauty?

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages

    As the very popular saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!" Many people have different views on what they consider to be beautiful which is why many people that I would view as unattractive are very beautiful in someone else's eyes. The world today defines beauty based on outward appearances alone. You are not beautiful if you are not physically attractive. According to the world's standards, beauty means being thin and tall. A clear complexion, shiny hair, straight teeth, radiant skin, and correct proportions are all elements of beauty. Unfortunately, numerous people cannot be all of these things and they are forced to believe that they are not beautiful in the eyes of others. Another saying that is very popular is, "Beauty is only skin deep." I do not believe that this statement is true for the reason that with all the cosmetic surgery, technology and make-up that we have in the world today beauty is bought and not natural. Beauty can also be determined by a person's personality and not necessarily by their looks because the way a person presents him or herself can make all the difference in the world. The most unattractive person can also display beautiful characteristics and it will conceal their appearance. Is beauty only conveyed in one particular color? No, African Americans are produced in many different shades, vanilla, caramel, mocha, coffee and chocolate. Black is in fact beautiful and there is no other race that can measure up to the beauty that is displayed by African Americans. In my opinion, people should not focus solely on the outside appearance because that can damage ones self-esteem. Parents should raise their children to appreciate the thoughts and actions of a person opposed to the looks of a person. Our priorities in American today are not at all in order but maybe one-day society will learn that beauty is not…

    • 325 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Definition Of Beauty

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The perception of beauty has no real dictionary definition, everyone has a certain concept of what beauty is in their own way that makes them unique. YOU are the definition. You are beautiful in so many ways from your intelligence to outer flaws, there are people out there who love you're smile, laugh and creativity. We need to break out from our cage of doubts and insecurities to finally see who we really…

    • 768 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Beauty Through the Ages

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages

    There are some countries in Africa who have recently adopted a new definition of beauty accepting the same beliefs as Western culture.…

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics