Does Instagram Promote Unrealistic Beauty Standards On Women?
Images of women in heavy makeup, wearing jumpsuits, and scantily clad clothing that shows off their curvy physique come to mind when people think of fashions promoted on Instagram. Many women are intrigued by this look and emulate it. Others aren't so enthralled by such a look. This image has become synonymous with how a young woman is supposed to dress fashionably in this day and age. However, such fashions have had a detrimental effect on women's self-esteem, self-image, and how she views herself in society. The implication of Instagram's baddie fashion has resulted in more women wearing ridiculous amounts of makeup, more women getting plastic surgery, and promotes the idea that appearance and beauty are more important than what is on the inside.
Too Much Makeup Makes A Mess
The use of makeup has always been a huge part of how women improve their appearance. Women have been using makeup to cover up imperfections and make themselves look more presentable. The use of makeup dates back to the ancient Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians would hydrate their skin with lotion and the women used green and blue eyeshadow as a way to stand out. Though makeup trends changed over the centuries after the ancient Egyptians reigned, women still continue to use the appropriate amount of makeup one needs to look decent. But that changed with the launching of Instagram. Instagram is a social media website that people use to post pictures and follow others. Makeup has become one of the things that are heavily promoted there. The makeup trend started to shift to a much heavier palette, bright colors, false eyelashes, plump lips, and a very harsh contour of the cheeks. The likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Cardi B, and many other celebrities sport this overly done look on Instagram. As a result, many women, particularly young women, have adopted this style of applying their makeup to their faces.
Celebrities sporting this look:
Rapper, Cardi B
Kylie Jenner, reality TV star
Another example of makeup trend: Notice the drawn-on eyebrows and eyelash extensions being displayed here.
Unfortunately, many women are applying enormous amounts of makeup on their faces to the detriment of the health of their skin. Studies have shown that prolonged use of heavy makeup results in clogged pores, which can result in acne breakouts. Or even destroy the natural texture of your skin. Oftentimes, it can lead to premature aging of the skin and breakdown of it as well. Wearing makeup to improve one's appearance is good in moderation, but too much makeup isn't good for the overall health of your skin.
Plastic Surgery as transformative
If makeup isn't enough to transform a woman into the beauty standards promoted on Instagram, plastic surgery is often requested as a way to finalize the look. Cosmetic surgery is the type of surgery one uses to enhance their look for the better. Unlike makeup, cosmetic surgery is more of a permanent altercation of one's looks. With makeup, one can take it off once they don't want it on their skin anymore. This isn't the case with plastic surgery. Many young women are running to plastic surgeons to get the facial features and models that are commonly promoted on Instagram by celebrities and models. The type of facial features promoted on these websites as beautiful are full lips, arched eyebrows, long yet chiseled cheeks, thin nose, and cat-like eyes aren't the type of features that many if not most women have. Even if she were to apply as much makeup as possible on her face, she still wouldn't get the results that she is looking for. Many women are going to plastic surgeons to get the full lips, arched eyebrows, and cat-like eyes promoted as beautiful on Instagram. Or they aspire to look like their favorite celebrities. In fact, there has been a study that showed that there has been a rapid rise in plastic surgery among women between the ages of 20 and 29.
Look at the before and after picture of this young woman. Not only is she wearing makeup in the after picture, but it also looks like she had facial surgery as well.
Not only has plastic surgery on the face been more common, so has plastic surgery on the body. Curvy figures with huge buttocks, breasts, wide hips, but with a flat stomach are widely regarded as the ideal body shape. This aesthetic has been popularized by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Nicki Minaj. Many women are also getting liposuction, Brazilian butt lifts, and breast implants to fit into the body that is promoted on Instagram and in society. Many of these women don't realize that inserting powerful and harmful chemicals into their bodies can be detrimental to their health. Some women experience bodily discomfort from getting these surgeries. Some of these women even die from the complications and effects of these surgeries. Is it worth it to risk harming your body to fit into a superficial beauty standard?
Look at how this woman transformed her body into unrealistic bodily proportions to fit into the whole "thick" Instagram baddie look. Of course, not every woman that gets surgery to alter their body turn out looking like this. However, it is still problematic that so many women feel the need to alter their bodies to meet such an unrealistic standard.
Appearances Appearances
Such dangerous trends are also making a wrong impression on the minds of young girls. The widespread use of Instagram and its promotion of unrealistic beauty standards has made young girls think that appearances are all that matters in life. Appearance does matter when you want to make an impression on a manager in an interview or going someplace special. In those cases, the appearance you put out will make a first impression on the person you are trying to impress. But there is more to life than just looks. Your personality and what you are on the inside are what matters more. Looks can only carry you so far. It is your personality, your drive, and your ambition that can carry one far further in life. Superficial beauty standards, be damned. Beauty fades. What is in your heart is what truly matters.
Ultimately, I believe that if such dangerous trends in beauty continue to fester, more women will be harming themselves for the sake of "looking beautiful". The overly contoured makeup ruins the health and appearance of a woman's skin while one can claim that she "looks beautiful" wearing such makeup. It isn't "beautiful" when she is developing acne or cystic scarring from using heavy makeup on her face. Nor is it funny that many women feel the need to use damaging chemicals to alter their bodies to fit an unrealistic body standard. It is harmful to put your body through these traumatic surgeries to have a curvy figure that everyone can brag about. The health of your body is much more important than making it look good for others. All of this also promotes the idea that appearance is all that matters in life. There is more to life than just appearance. A woman's beauty comes from within; not how she looks on the outside. Hence why dangerous beauty trends will continue to wreak havoc on woman's life esteem until the problem is properly addressed and solved.