Are Women Slaves to Fashion and Beauty? Essay -- Feminism Feminist Wom

Are Women Slaves to Beauty?      Ã‚   What does it take to feel beautiful? Perhaps a little bit of time, make-up, and a breathtaking dress; or at least that's what we have been programmed to believe.   Without a doubt, all of the magazines, advertisements, and make-up beauty tips have influenced women’s beliefs about what it means to be beautiful. An artificial image of beauty has been imposed on each and every woman in our culture.    I would like to begin with the fact that women have always been known to dedicate their time to beauty. Those who are devoted to their appearance most often believe that beauty brings power, popularity, and success. Women believe this, because they grow up reading magazines that picture beautiful women in successful environments; not to mention they are popular models and world famous individuals. Beautiful women are no longer just a priority for most advertising, but we have become a walking target for the working class employers. It is documented that better-looking attorneys earn more than others after five years of practice, which was an effect that grew with experience (Biddle, 172). We cannot overlook the fact that it is always the most popular and most beautiful girl who becomes homecoming-queen or prom-queen. While these are possible positive effects of the "beauty myth," the negative results of female devotion to beauty undercut this value. These effects are that it costs a lot of money, it costs a lot of time, and in the long run, it costs a lot of pain.    First, women spend huge amounts of money to improve their looks. So here we are unable to escape the reality that we can never be flawless or blemish free; moreover, as long as women have the belief that all greatness de... ...take pleasure in making yourselves up "is like telling you to stop enjoying food, sex, or love" (Newsweek vl127, 68). Just don't let it run your life, and stop feeling that beauty should be valued by what is seen on the outside. Now go out, buy your Prom dress, and do it for fun. Not for who or what you should be.    Works Cited Biddle, Jeff E & Hamermesh, David S. (1998). Beauty, Productivity, and Discrimination: Lawyers' Look and Lucre. Journal of Labor Economics, 16(30). 172. Morin, Carole. (1997). Dead Glamorous. UK: National Publishing Company. Malkin, Carole. (1990, February), True Colors-Make-Up That's Tailor-made for You. Working Woman, 104. Schmid, Wendy. (1994, August). Making Up. Vogue, 198. Lieberman, Rhonda. (1995, April). Guys and Dolls. Artform, 21. Springen, Karen. (1996, June). Eyes of the Beholders. Newsweek, 68.