Aesthetics , especially among women, are considered an important component in achieving a goal. The contemporary world seems to place a lot of emphasis on a person's physical appearance. Perfection and the standards of beauty have evolved over time, and especially after the trends dictated by influencers, the race for " perfection " has become more fierce than ever. The simple and natural have almost taken a back seat, and if today a person, man or woman, doesn't fit certain standards of beauty, undoubtedly determined by virtual reality, they seem unacceptable in our society because they're considered unfashionable and don't conform to a predefined standard.
But can beauty really play an important role in a woman's personal and, why not, professional fulfillment? Is it right that a person should be considered and/or judged solely on their physical appearance? What are the effects of these prejudices?
The concept of beauty
Beauty is “the quality capable of satisfying the soul through the senses, becoming an object of deserved and worthy contemplation.”
When we talk about beauty, the focus is on body care. The concept of beauty today undoubtedly can be associated with aesthetics, understood in the sense of surgery. The percentage of individuals who resort to the so-called " touch-ups " has increased, and this also leads to an increasingly clear gap between beauty and ugliness.
This phenomenon is certainly a product of the times. The body today, even more than in the past, is almost "objectified." The woman's body is even more considered an object of desire by men. Just think of how the mass media promotes articles for men using women with perfect physiques. In our society, the body has become the object of a culture that is no longer traditional but follows fashion and the ostentation of perfection and conformity, influenced by various factors. Furthermore, the body , understood as a sociological category , is the structure that allows for action, uniting the individual's personality with the impact of social elements.
What is body shaming?
How many times have we witnessed or heard about acts of inexplicable psychological violence against people considered unattractive. But who or what defines someone as beautiful? Insults directed at individuals deemed "unattractive" lead to personality disorders in these individuals, who feel inferior and inadequate simply because someone has decided they lack certain characteristics found in those deemed "beautiful."
This phenomenon has a very specific name and is the object of study and discussion in the psycho-social field: body shaming.
Body shaming is the act of ridiculing a person for their physical appearance. Any physical characteristic can be targeted: being thin or fat, height or short, haircut, tattoos, excess body hair, and many other characteristics. Physical appearance is targeted because it is considered non-conforming to the aesthetic standards of the victim's culture. It doesn't matter whether it is actually abnormal or harmful to health, or simply different from the supposed "perfect physical shape," nor whether the victim has the ability to modify it or not. Aesthetic standards are assumed to be normal and necessary for a person to be considered worthy of respect: the victim's body is therefore considered abnormal compared to the predefined standards. The victim is made to feel guilty and ashamed : this shame primarily reduces self-esteem, can lead the individual to isolate themselves, and can trigger eating and behavioral disorders, which can even lead to depression and, in more extreme cases, suicide.
Some types of body shaming have ancient origins in popular superstition and change their raison d'être in every part of the world as they encounter different cultures.
Body shaming can affect both genders : men are subjected to discrimination based on penis size and musculature, for example; women are subjected to discrimination based on the size and shape of their breasts, hips, and buttocks.
This phenomenon certainly occurs more often towards women, both by men and by women themselves.
Lately, even not being fashionable in terms of clothing has been considered a "flaw." If, especially girls, they don't have fashionable clothing, they are ridiculed and barred from joining any group. Adolescents, seeking social acceptance, are particularly vulnerable to this discrimination. Age-related physical changes also affect postpartum women. It can be exacerbated by the dissemination of aesthetic standards in the mass media and often leads to bullying or cyberbullying.
In some cases, even in the workplace, people are expected to have a " good presence ." This "demand" makes us reflect on the fact that an individual cannot and should not be considered and/or appreciated for their external appearance, because true quality lies within. This may seem like a predefined concept, but in a society like today's, where appearance is more important than being, these prejudices tied to beauty should disappear , nor should there be any binary definitions that lead individuals to be classified as beautiful/unintelligent, ugly/uncultured.
I graduated in Sociology with a specialization in Social and Territorial Policies, and earned a master's degree in E-Government and E-Management in Public Administration. I love reading and writing. For me, sociology means experiencing everyday life in all its nuances and nuances. Today, I am an Administrative Assistant at the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo in Trieste, and above all, I am a wife and mother, the greatest asset of all.
