Beauty standards change from era to era; we have commercials documenting what body shapes people liked during the 1900s. There are still cosmetic items like lipstick and blemish-covering makeup that enhance appearance, just as before; however, nowadays, beauty commercials feature various body types instead of just a select few.
The best way I can describe the current trend is modern beauty advertisements have multiple types of women, particularly plus-sized women, featured on these billboards and magazine covers. Back then you’d get told to eat a salad and lose weight, but now these beauty companies are appealing to those of all body types, encouraging them to love themselves, and I appreciate that.
The fear people have of getting a bit fat while having reasonable parts, like being more prone to heart attacks, people exaggerate it into any kind of body fat means they’re “letting themselves go.” This “letting themselves go” mentality sparks paranoia among many, causing a lot of discomfort when the topic is discussed like it’s something people need to fear. I for one don’t think people need to fear a little meat on their bones; I think people should eat healthy to live longer, but not because of the judgement of others.
Having less conventional beauty standards also works against bigotry because there’s less to make a stereotype out of. People of all races have moved for more inclusion in said conventional beauty standards, and with more inclusion there’s less unification.
Less uniform beauty standards mean more to like and less to fear in the long run. People shouldn’t all try to look the same shape and then become upset when their body doesn’t fit that fantasy standard. Over decades we’ve worked against this uniform standard with all kinds of movements, and I’m pleased that we’ll continue down this path moving towards a diverse future.
