The Truth About Beauty
Women of all ethnicities, sizes, shapes, and ages are objectified across the world. Women of minority status, however, are portrayed much differently than white women. They are framed as exotic and primal, even animalistic, and this representation is perpetuated as they follow the social scripts of those around them and those that came before them. Sara Baartman had a huge influence on how ethnic women are portrayed today, but she did not have a choice. These women do, however, altering the social script and the way the media portrays ethnic beauties is a difficult, and dare I say, impossible task. The unfair treatment of women, specifically ethnic women, in the media stems from the desire for colonization and white supremacy. Therefore, white society creates a virtual beauty, an unattainable beauty, based on the characteristics of various ethnic backgrounds to create a cosmopolitan whiteness that women strive for. As demonstrated by the mental conflict that ensues between primal urges and negative body image, this quest for unattainable beauty keeps women preoccupied with their appearance and the male gaze. According to the article, "Cosmopolitan Whiteness: The Effects and Affects of Skin-Whitenening Ads in Transnational Women's Magazines in Indonesia" written by L. Ayu Saraswati, "[C]osmopolitan whiteness illustrates that whiteness works in hegemonic ways. That is, whiteness adapts, mutates, and co-opts new forms of whiteness to maintain its supremacy. [...T]his is the essence of a non-essentialist, “virtual,” cosmopolitan whiteness" (37).
I challenge you to stop chasing this ideal. I challenge you to embrace the idea that beauty comes from within. It is not about the color of your skin, the size of your breasts, the color of your hair, or the shape of your figure. It is about who you are on the inside that matters. Instead of idealizing the women in magazines, I challenge you to see your own beauty. You are beautiful. You are special. You are imperfect.
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
I challenge you to stop chasing this ideal. I challenge you to embrace the idea that beauty comes from within. It is not about the color of your skin, the size of your breasts, the color of your hair, or the shape of your figure. It is about who you are on the inside that matters. Instead of idealizing the women in magazines, I challenge you to see your own beauty. You are beautiful. You are special. You are imperfect.
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross