The Problem with Society’s Unrealistic Beauty Standards

What is beauty to you? Is it soft, smooth, clear and tanned skin? Is it a flat stomach and an hourglass figure? How about six-pack abs, a chiseled jawline and straight teeth? If you’re saying no, maybe it’s one of the thousand other things that you must have to be beautiful (according to society’s impractical beauty standards).

For as long as I can remember, myself and many others around me, have been told that to truly be beautiful – to have friends, a partner and a successful life – we need to look a certain way. Sadly, over time, we believe in this toxic way of thinking.

Men, women and children have constantly had their flaws pointed out and exposed to them. The thing is, you really shouldn’t point out something about someone’s appearance, especially if they can’t fix it within a couple seconds. You may not realize it, but pointing out how hairy someone’s leg is, or how weird their smile looks, just once, can greatly impact their confidence and perception of themselves for a very long time.

These beauty standards that everyone compares themselves to have become so dangerous to people that it affects us mentally and physically. We are so blinded by the objective of being perfect, we sacrifice our own health and happiness. Many have developed mental health issues and, according to the National Eating Disorder Association, about 70 million people suffer from eating disorders.

Every day, we fight an internal battle with ourselves. Society will never be pleased, even if we met all their “standards.” They will only continue to pressure us to be someone one we can’t be; not even those models on magazines. So how do we overcome these ridiculous beauty standards?

Allow me to introduce the concept of self-love. Self-love is a state of appreciation for oneself that grows when we do activities that support our physical, psychological and spiritual growth. By doing so, you may find it easier to accept your weaknesses, grow compassion for yourself, help determine your purpose and prioritize your values.

You can’t rely on others to appreciate you, which is why you must take care and think positively of yourself. My mother once told me “It’s all in the way you think” and she’s right. It doesn’t matter if someone told you 100 times that you’re stunning or 1,000 times that you’re ugly. You won’t believe what they say until you convince yourself that what they say is true.

So how do we give ourselves the love we need? I suggest starting with the little things, such as looking at yourself in the mirror every morning and complimenting at least one thing about yourself. It can be a physical attribute, a personality trait or something you did that you’re proud of! Self-love is not selfish practice – it’s a way of taking care and being aware of yourself. It helps us grow, makes our journey easier and makes ourselves and others around us happier.

Your ethnicity, facial and body structure, height and everything in between doesn’t define your beauty or who you are. All those imperfections are what makes us perfect, unique and beautiful in our own way. As cheesy as it may sound, your personality and beliefs hold more value than someone’s pretty face.

As Marilyn Monroe once said, “You’re the beautiful one, it’s society who’s ugly.