In the name of beauty

We value what others say for our benefit. And to a greater extent we pursue and give worth the socially accepted standards because we don't want to be labeled as indifferent, or worse, bizarre.

Subjective standards are considered differently among other cultures. They are conventionally shared and popularized by a considerable majority in a given social group. Through certain standards, people are guided on their beliefs and actions. Such kind of collective following is important for members so they can still be part of a cohesive group.

Through time standards change and the pace is dependent on how receptive the members are.

For the standards of beauty, for instance, changes occur based on the need and preferences of the current generation as past standards have become unresponsive.

A few examples to illustrate such change: During the early times, one measurement of beauty for women was weight-the weightier, the better. In times when food was scarce or hard to get, being full figured meant they had, had enough to eat and would be potential for healthy and rich mates.  Another was the skin color. Especially the wealthy elite who wanted to look so pale, blue blood veins were very visible on their faces. This was so as they didn't want to be outside working in the fields and obtaining a farmer's tan. And if they couldn't do it naturally, they faked that pale skin with poisonous titanium paint.

Present time has a different way of looking at beauty. A beautiful woman has a flat-belly, toned body, fair-skinned with a fairly-accepted dark color. There is nothing wrong with change especially if this brings both affirmation and admiration from others. This is so as there is congruence between personal change with certain standards. However this becomes wrong when on the quest of keeping with the standards, it would pose danger to one's health.

The scenario is true to a reported case of a lass who in her desperate quest to be in shape for the local beauty contest, she took slimming pills four times a day. Sadly, such beauty can't be seen and will never be appreciated because she passed away a day before the beauty contest. Physicians said the young beauty had multi-organ failure.

Such pressure and expectation of the beauty contest has obviously not been handled as she succumbed to a way that threatens her health. A way that puts an end to her life. This is not after all an isolated case as there were similar cases in the past. These cases involved individuals who took society's unforgiving dictates into their nerves.       

On the other hand, it is also sad that we have companies making big money on people's insecurities. Do we wait for more vulnerable young women who will tract similar miserable fate?

Another recent reported case is about a lad who has also been joining local beauty contests. But with so much dissatisfaction on one's looks, he underwent a nose job. Unlucky, because he had it done with a bogus, the result is not what he expected-a total destruction.

The way I see it, it's now a difficult task to regain his youthful look. A look that has already been appreciated by his loved ones and peers. Gone are the days when he was well-applauded by certain followers for his initial feats.

Some would go under the knife, would resort to liposuction, tummy tuck, butt implants, hip implants, facelift, bleaching,  among many other medical procedures at the expense of their own precious lives. 

The cases of these young, vibrant individuals is a reflection of how some members of the society take the idea of beauty. A society that is increasingly obsessed with physical perfection. Such is the case when one is addicted to plastic surgery. When one is displeased with the result of one operation and so crave for more. This is what plastic surgeon Z. Paul Lorenc termed as body dysmorphic disorder in his article in Psychology Today.

For average Filipinos, it is easy to be fooled to cheap but unsafe offers for beauty enhancements. This is when they take refuge to unlicensed "doctors" and fake beauty products.

 These cases of fitting in are not anymore for enhancement but for self-destruction. Trapped by societal dictates, they chose the uncertain path. This superficiality is brought about by too much commercialization and hype. We are being aesthetically judged based on society's perception of beautiful. True judgment on the significance of existence anchors on whether we have served others and its impact is lasting to them.