Perception of Beauty: making and breaking with time
Girl wanted: Slim waist, fair skin with a sweet voice.
Boy wanted: Tall height, fair skin, a six or eight pack abs with sharp features.
But then, where will emotions, intellectualism and respect lie?
Thinking that being pretty will solve all your problems.
Delicate and fragile are the two words which has always defined the ideal personality traits expected to be in a woman. Where rough and tough are the traits expected in a man. From decades we have seen such portrayal of “Ideal men and women” on big screens which has become the sole reason for the mindsets existing in the current modern world of ours. Thanks to media, people from generations have always dreamt of being someone like Audrey Hepburn and Madhubala or Tom Cruise, not in terms of their personality or talent but looks; thinking that being pretty will solve all your problems. (Sweetie, if that were the case then we would have already found a solution for the ongoing pandemic.)
Where some are getting out of such delusions while many are still struck in that mindset and this change has been seen in every gender. In today's world there are many who do not support such ideas of beauty (and the “Fairness” beauty creams as well). For them beauty is beyond a person’s looks, they crave for a personality compatible to theirs than finding just a painting.
The idea of beauty is shifting day by day and guess who’s helping it change? Media.
Even tho it was earlier media who created such perception for beauty but now it is also again media who is trying its best to overcome such beauty rules. Be it encouraging posts on social media or acceptance of every skin type in the entertainment world or making strong content on such discriminating issues. Media is creating a new definition of beauty which was once set by them.
Barbie, the biggest beauty idea setter company among the kids also changed its approach to beauty by launching every skin type and color dolls in the market after seeing it’s reach and popularity around the world.
Beauty Pageants also emerged out as another place of acceptance for every color, type and even gender. Not yet on a large scale but it has started. Even socially also, people have started seeing beauty in a different perspective.
Movies and shows are another platform where we can see this new vision approaching, be it Aditi and Taran from Yeh Jawani hai Deewani, Natellie from Isn’t it romantic or Mr. Bean with shutter disabilty. These characters show us the true meaning of love, life and laughter which is much more important in ones life than looks.
Looks won’t make you laugh, giggle, smile, successful and happy. It’s you. You and your confidence.
I am not against people who have such features, slim body or also against those who apply makeup and follow other skincare routines. I am just against the thoughts and statements that say that there is no bright future without them. I am a female in her late teens with a lot of acne & oil on my face, an underweight body and bad, actually bizarre fashion sense. And yet, I like this side of me because its the real me.
Before ending I would like to share some of my favourite movies and shows which portrayed the new definition of beauty to the world:
- Bala by Amar Kaushik
Starring Ayushman Khurana, Bhumi Petnekar and Yami Gautami the story talks about Bala, a young man who suffers from premature balding and struggles to keep up with the social beauty standards. Hiding his baldness with a hat and wig he falls in love and marries a Tik-Tok star Pari (unaware of his balding) for whom looks are the only thing that matters. The moment she learns the truth their marriage starts falling apart. That’s when Bala seeks help of his old school mate, a dark-complexioned lawyer Latika.
2. My ID is Gangam Beauty by Choi Sung-Bum
Not the PSY song. Gangam Beauty is a South Korean drama which talks about Kang Mi-Rae, a simple college going student who just went under the knife to become beautiful. Who falls in love with her high school classmate Do Kyung Seok, who loves her inside out. But other than a college romance, the show focuses on “finding happiness on their own”. Show’s main message to the audience was that “even after taking all the pain of being beautiful (natural or though some help) are you still able to find happiness in your life?”
3. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo by Oh Hyun-Jong
Where Korean Dramas are known to set a perfect ‘too good to be real’ worlds they changed their ideal looking world this time. No slim waist, introvert personality or the up to date fashion, this time it was the story of a state level weightlifter who sets out to achieve her dream and finds a partner who likes her the way she is. The story is something that every individual can relate to. From being passionate towards our dreams to doing foolish stuff to engage our crush’s attention to again fall in love with yourself.
(Plus this show gave us the best pick-up line!) ;p
Well, there are many more movies and shows around the world resembling our points out there, but I would chose these three show more as in my opinion they represent their message in a light and engaging way. Plus there light and fun approach towards the audience is the reason which makes it a bit more likeable by every generation.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
-Mahatma Gandhi
I hope this blog does make a difference in your life and helps you notice and overcome such discrimination around you as well.
