Western Influence on Beauty
How do the Western standards of beauty define themselves and are possibly redefined in this text?
Western preferences and ideals have long held strong global impacts on many topics, and beauty is just one example.
Whiteness seems to be a larger focus with regards to beauty ideals."The forehead white ... the neck should be white ... the whiteness and delicacy of its skin should ... go on improving to the bosom; the skin in general should be white, properly tinged with red, and a look of thriving health in it ... the arm should be white ... the bosom should be white" (Montez 21-22).
- lighter skin appeal (skin bleaching)
There may be a bit of diversity regarding skin color, but their bodies are pretty much the same."The bosom should be white and charming, neither too large nor too small; the breasts equal in roundness and firmness, rising gently, and very distinctly separated ... the sides should be rather long and the hips wider than the shoulders, and go down rounding and lessening gradually to the knee" (Montez 22).
- perpetuation of these ideals and standards
- magazines
- movies
- fashion
- makeup