Have you ever felt affected by societal beauty standards? Society tells women that we should look a certain way to be considered beautiful. If you’re too skinny, have too much meat on your bones, don’t have fair skin, are too tall, are too short, and the list goes on, then you are not seen as ‘desirable’.
Young girls start to feel the effects of beauty standards at a young age and this can stay with them throughout their adult lives as well. It is scary to think about how much society can influence people to think about the way that they should look or make them think something is wrong with their bodies if they do not fit certain criteria.
Jada Jones wrote a post about beauty standards being unrealistic and unachievable. A quote that stuck out to me from the post was when it said, “They are expected to be hairless all over their body, have to be slim with no tummy but big butt, smell like daisies and roses all the time, not have regular bodily fluids and gases, and be an all-around perfect Barbie.”
Women and men are expected to look a certain way and are portrayed in magazines, movies, or on social media in a way that attracts attention. Regardless of editing and photo-shopping images or videos, society has wired our brains to think this is what is ‘normal’ and everyone should meet those standards in their daily lives.
Syed Raaziya also contributed to the discussion surrounding beauty standards and how they could be potentially dangerous. Four of the biggest dangers surrounding these standards that individuals can develop are body dysmorphia, negative emotions, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts.
I have personally felt the effects of the beauty standards around me and have also been witness to some of my closest friends feeling the effects as well. There have been times when I would not eat in certain situations because I did not want to be seen as the ‘big girl eating too much’ or I would wear jeans and a sweatshirt in the summer because I was uncomfortable with the way my body looked because I was not ‘skinny’ enough.
I made those decisions about my body in middle school. I have grown to not be so scared of others’ opinions of me, but there are still days when I battle myself in the mirror. I also have battled with my own mind about how my sister and I could have such different body types and why was she the lucky one who is skinny. I realized that this was not only hurting me, but it could also be hurting her because I was just turning around and putting beauty standards back on her.
Sometimes we do not realize that when we are hurting because of the standards placed on us, we turn around and do the same thing to the people around us. We have been conditioned by the media that we consume and it has become a part of our daily thinking. Whether we do it subconsciously or not, there have been times that I’m sure all of us have seen someone walk by that we judged in some way. However, it is up to us to fight back against these thoughts and hopefully help work towards a more inclusive and diverse social standard.
Let’s start working towards making better communities around us, even if we start by giving someone a compliment when we see them. Even something, like a compliment, might seem so small at first but if we start building each other up, we can try to create trust and love in our communities and the ones around us.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
I loved reading this. I wrote something about a similar topic because it is something that needs to be addressed more. It is unfortunate to feel like we have to try so overly hard to be “beautiful” instead of just being us. I wish there was a way everyone could all delete social media and stick with it because I believe that is the number 1 cause. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings!
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I can relate to this post so much, thank you for sharing your experiences too. The effects of societal beauty standards can show itself in so many ways, especially subconsciously. It is so important to be aware of how we perceive others and ourselves, thank you for encouraging more loving and trusting behavior within communities so we can build each other up.
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This really hits home, unfortunately. That projection of our own insecurities is something that I often receive from my mother, which is sad, but also difficult for my mental health as a result. With all the media we consume, comprised of perfect, re-touched bodies, diet and surgery culture, and social media, it is no wonder that we feel this way. I would much rather see realistic individuals on social media and other forms of media, so that we can all celebrate our individuality and improve mental health for the generation.
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This was interesting to read and learn your take on it as I did a similar piece but relating more to the effects social media has on one’s body image. I found it intriguing on how you related it to society and how a society as a whole, leaves an impact on many people’s self-image and perception. As a woman, I personally feel the effects that society puts on me as an individual and have found myself making changes to fit these beauty standards. I firmly believe that society needs to adjust these expectations and make steps to better individuals’ confidence and self-image.
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I really enjoyed this blog post. I have definitely been affected by societal beauty standards. I agree that society tells women that we should look a certain way to be considered beautiful. This is a sad reality that needs to be improved. I think that giving other people compliments is a great idea and I am going to do it more. Thanks for sharing!
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This is such a relatable post. I think majority of people can resonate with this topic as well. It is a sad reality that these standards still affect many individuals daily. I really appreciated the section where it talks about how we can get swallowed in our image and then in turn, end up judging others. It humbled me and made me take a step back. Thanks for sharing this!
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Your post really resonated with me! Additionally, it’s commendable that you’re sharing your experiences with societal beauty standards. It takes courage to acknowledge and challenge these unrealistic expectations. The impact on self-esteem and body image is significant, affecting not just individuals but those around us. It’s inspiring to see your call for a more inclusive and diverse social standard. Building each other up, starting with compliments and fostering a culture of support, can indeed create positive change. Your perspective adds an important voice to the conversation, reminding us all of the power we have to shape a more compassionate world.
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I Feel women have always been subjected to social beauty standards. Even growing up I always thought that having blonde hair and blue eyes is what made you beautiful, shows like Hannah Montanna really influenced these thoughts as well. Hannah was a blonde-haired global popstar who was contently called beautiful and talented, but when she took off the wig, she was just a normal girl, Miley, who had brown hair and not as much make up. This is just one example of what I think has affected our social standards of beauty.
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