SOCIETY’S CURRENT BEAUTY STANDARDS HAVE AFFECTED WOMEN FOR THE WORSE

          Throughout history, society's obsession with the female appearance has resulted in

extreme effects. Examples of toxic beauty standards throughout history trace back centuries ago. From deadly foot binding in the Han Dynasty to crippling restrictive clothing of Victorian fashion. Standards of ‘beauty’ are an ever-changing and exhausting oppression of women. The negative physical effects are most commonly a result of destructive mental effects that have surfaced in women due to beauty standards. Societal pressures regarding feminine beauty have negatively affected women for hundreds of years. As a result, toxic standards have manifested in current times. The mass expansion of media and marketing has become the main device in the distribution of standards. This includes the rise of social media, “influencers,” extreme photo manipulation, and toxic industries.                     With most of the population being influenced by media daily, it is no surprise that unhealthy expectations of beauty have developed in men, women, and children. The effects which result from this have a severely damaging outcome on women’s confidence, value, health, and success. Some of the main negative effects which are directly linked to toxic beauty standards include: “the grooming gap,” excessive dieting/exercise, body modification, poor body image, and mental health issues. Along with factual evidence, this thesis provides real-life experience written by women on how beauty standards have severely impacted individual lives. Additionally, this thesis includes a plan on how to tackle society’s negative beauty standards. By spreading education, and awareness of the dangers that standards create, companies and people in society can promote healthy minds, bodies, and expectations for women.