By Makenna Larson, ’29

Staff Writer

Beauty is one of those words everyone thinks they understand, but no one can fully define. In today’s society, beauty is usually shown to us through social media, magazines, and celebrities. Women, specifically, are constantly told what is considered pretty and what is not. Whether it’s clear skin, a certain body type, or a new hairstyle you “have to try,” these ideas turn into what people call “beauty standards.” Even though they are everywhere and are considered normal, they end up making girls feel less — a problem society needs to address.

Society often treats beauty like a checklist. If you are pretty enough to meet the expectations, you are considered attractive. The problem is that this checklist keeps changing. What is trendy one year is “out” the next, which makes it impossible for anyone to ever meet the standards in place. Instead of feeling proud of who they are, many girls feel pressured to constantly fix themselves.

Beauty standards especially affect women because they are taught from a young age that how they look matters more than who they are. Compliments are often about appearance first, not personality, kindness, or intelligence. Over time, this can make girls believe their value depends on meeting these standards, which can end up making them focus on how they look instead of how they act.

The reason beauty standards will never make women feel fulfilled is because they are based on comparison. There will always be someone who looks different, taller, smaller, clearer, or more “perfect” according to society. Fulfillment doesn’t come from trying to look like someone else. It comes from feeling accepted and confident as yourself, which standards don’t allow.

True beauty is personal and different for everyone. It includes confidence, uniqueness, and being comfortable in your own skin. Until society stops treating beauty like a rulebook and starts treating it like something individual, many women will continue to feel like they are chasing something they can never reach. Maybe the real problem isn’t how women look, but how narrowly society defines beauty in the first place.

featured image: https://www.betimeful.com/blogs/effects-of-social-media-on-body-image