Beauty Is Currency: Challenging Social Norms

Have you ever felt pressured to look a certain way? Do you wonder why society places so much value on appearance?

In her book Women Don't Owe You Pretty, Florence Given explores the concept that beauty is currency in our society. She delves into how this mindset affects our self-worth and interactions with others.

Keep reading to discover how you can challenge beauty standards and embrace your authentic self.

The Currency of Beauty in Society

Have you ever felt like your appearance determines your worth? You're not alone. In Women Don't Owe You Pretty, Florence Given explores the concept that beauty is currency in our society. This idea suggests that individuals who conform to certain beauty standards are often valued more highly, leading to advantages in various aspects of life. Given's book delves into how this "beauty as currency" mindset affects our self-worth and interactions with others.

The Male Gaze and Beauty Standards

The notion of "the male gaze," first introduced by Laura Mulvey, plays a significant role in shaping societal beauty standards. This perspective influences everyday choices, from makeup application to hair removal and clothing selection. Often, these decisions are made subconsciously to appease the ever-present scrutiny from a masculine viewpoint.

Western culture's beauty ideals unfairly favor specific traits: whiteness, cisgender identities, and slimness, while often disregarding individuals with disabilities. The relentless pursuit of these ideals, deeply rooted in racism and fatphobia, along with discriminatory attitudes towards age, compels people to seek what's known as 'attractiveness advantage.'

Breaking Free From Beauty Expectations

Challenging societal norms involves rejecting the idea that you must act or look a certain way to earn basic respect. The pressure on women to modify their appearance to meet male preferences is particularly unfair. Conforming to sexist jokes and displaying feminine characteristics are signs of adhering to standards established by a male-dominated society.

Phrases like "boys will be boys" often serve as justifications for male actions, reinforcing gender-based stereotypes. The capitalist framework turns women's looks into commodities, pressuring them to spend money to maintain their attractiveness.

Embracing Diversity in Beauty

Campaigns like #SaggyBoobsMatter and #TransIsBeautiful on social media platforms foster an environment that encourages individuals to embrace and celebrate their true identities. It's important to note that women of color and transgender women often face more stringent demands to adhere to conventional beauty standards.

The trans community celebrates a diverse spectrum of femininity, showcasing a multitude of ways to express an individual's gender identity. This diversity challenges the narrow definitions of beauty perpetuated by society and the media.

The Intersection of Identity and Beauty

Your identity plays a crucial role in how you experience and interact with beauty standards. Possessing characteristics like whiteness, gender conformity from birth, or the absence of disabilities bestows specific advantages within society.

By examining your inherent biases and privileges, such as how often you see reflections of your own preferences and types of relationships portrayed in media, you can better understand the systemic challenges faced by individuals from marginalized groups.

Redefining Beauty on Your Own Terms

Feminism encourages personal growth by challenging prevailing perspectives and fostering advancement in personal relationships and self-consciousness. It empowers you to transcend harmful standards and beliefs by recognizing that beauty serves as a type of societal currency.

Embracing every aspect of who you are can lead to deeper relationships with others and improve your self-relationship. Rejecting societal norms and embracing your true self is a powerful act of self-love and resistance against the beauty-as-currency mindset.

Self-worth Beyond Appearance

Nurturing authentic self-appreciation and protecting your vitality by rejecting societal expectations about looks can enhance your confidence. Valuing your own perspective and setting personal boundaries is a significant act of self-care.

You gain empowerment by recognizing that your value is independent of your allure, a significant milestone in personal growth. Engaging in self-care practices can bolster your sense of self-worth, which in turn nurtures a deep-rooted feeling of self-respect.

Creating a More Inclusive Beauty Standard

To challenge the concept of beauty as currency, it's crucial to prioritize the viewpoints of individuals from underrepresented groups. This involves departing from strict beliefs about a person's identity and supporting a variety of relationship structures that go beyond conventional norms.

A holistic view of feminism recognizes how various aspects of identity, such as race and gender, can intersect to create unique forms of discrimination and injustice. By creating spaces where individuals from traditionally marginalized communities can share and be recognized for their unique perspectives, we can work towards a more inclusive and diverse understanding of beauty.