Perceived ideologies of beauty and health has and continues to have an impact on
young girls and women globally. It is a topic that is important to explain to society today
due to the adverse effects that women suffer when trying to achieve society's standards of
beauty and health. Garcia (2015) writes wellness is measured by several variables and
three of those are the healthy body, living environment, and happiness. However, with
how beauty has been defined through the years and with more images of the "ideal"
physicality assailing the senses of many women today; it can generate confusion and
distortion of what having a healthy body and being "beautiful" actually means. Aaron
(1978) asserts, "The pursuit of health and beauty in the days of Ulysses S. Grants and
Theodore Roosevelt's administration was a rugged and arduous undertaking and for
women who did not make the grade only had themselves to blame" (p. 38). Women had
an image to uphold, and it was their business to be beautiful and healthy. The book 'The
Ugly Girl Papers: or Hints for the Toilet' written in 1874 by Susan D. Power is a
handbook of beauty regimens and advice for proper etiquette for women. Powers (1874)
writes, St. Paul approved himself no less a connoisseur of female beauty than a censor of
decorum when he wrote, " If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her" (p.23). She goes
on to write that woman should not cut their daughter's hair except for the occasional trim
as the hair is a sign of beauty and health; advising women that beauty signifies health. b In
the book, 'Woman in Girlhood, Wifehood, Motherhood; Her Responsibilities and her
Duties at All Periods of Life; A Guide in the Maintenance of Her Health and That of Her
Children,' written in 1906 by Myer Solis-Cohen, he writes, "Health without question, is
the path that leads to beauty. Cosmetics, drugs, and other artificial means only lead one
astray." Myer continues, "It is one of the purposes of this book to point out and explain in
a simple yet scientific manner the rules of hygiene which must be observed in order to
obtain and preserve health and beauty" (p. 31). The first chapter of Myers' book deals
with beauty advice.
Much like today, beauty and health is a topic that has been written about for
centuries. The perception of beauty has been guided by cultural influences and for every
culture, the standard of beauty varies. Society's definition of what beauty is, well it
depends on cultural, societal, and generational strongholds. BuzzFeed created a video
called "Women's Ideal Body Types Throughout History" to illustrate more than 3,000
years of women's ideal body types by their perspective society standards. Beauty is
perceived to be a reflection of health, vitality, sexual appeal and social appeal, but it is
dependent on the social conditions of the times in which one lives. Orbach (2010) asserts,
"The democratization of beauty – which encourages everyone from young girls to old
women to be obsessed with their appearance – has sold women a peculiar pact in which
beauty is spuriously linked to a sense of achievement and security (p. 36). Studies show
women have gone to great lengths to meet society's standards of beauty and have suffered
physical, financial, or psychological risks. Expectations from society can impact a young
female or woman's self-worth and self-esteem, and lead to insecurities. These factors can
affect a woman's capacity to have or develop positive relationships, self-actualize, and
thus suffer a deep loss of self. Beauty is still a prominent issue in today's world. Through
the advancement of technology, we are bombarded with more material than that of earlier
times through advertisements, magazine covers, billboards, social media platforms, and
more with images that suggest certain physical attributes in women are more favorable.
When reflecting on the topic of beauty, we see that globally, society's expectations and
standards of beauty are ever-changing and are still influenced by cultural and societal
strongholds; beauty is subjective and indefinable.
References:
Aaron, D. (1978). The sad shape of Victorian womanhood. Saturday Evening Post,
250(4), 38–44. Retrieved from: https://search-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=17948537&site=eds-
live&scope=site.
BuzzFeed. (n.d). Women's Ideal Body Types Through History [YouTube]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrp0zJZu0a4&t=103s
Garcia, C. (2015). What are the Eight Dimensions of Wellness in Your Life? Colorado
Nurse, 115(1), 6. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=103763107&site=eds
-live&scope=site
Myer, Solis-Cohen. (1906). Women in girlhood, wifehood, motherhood; her
responsibilities and her life duties at all periods of life: A guide in the
maintenance of her own health and that of her children. The J.C. Winston Co.
Retrieved from:
https://archive.org/details/womaningirlhoodw00soli/page/32/mode/2up
Orbach, S. (2010, April 19). Invasion of the body snatchers: the beauty industry steals
women’s self-esteem and convinces us to spend unwisely in pursuit of physical
perfection. New Statesman, 139(4997). https://search-ebscohost-
com.ezproxy.snhu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbig&AN=edsbig.A22593452
4&site=eds-live&scope=site
Power, S.D. (1874). The ugly-girl papers, or Hints for the toilet. New York: Harper.
Retrieved from:
https://archive.org/details/uglygirlpapersor00powerich/page/24/mode/2up
