A couple of years ago people were saying that models where unrealistic images of how women are supposed to look?

Sure. But then what about now? Now we actually have a concept of beauty that is not even found in real life. It’s actually more like science fiction. Even those few percent that a beautiful enough to be featured in your favourite magazine are covered in makeup, photoshopped and most likely had their fair share of plastic surgery too. And we are taking it in without any sense of criticism at all. The walls of my 12-year-old cousin are plastered with posters of “perfect women”. Every day whatever she’s doing she is surrounded by perfection. She is constantly comparing herself to something she’ll never be her parents are doing absolutely nothing about it, because it’s completely normal. But doesn’t the fact that it’s considered normal make it even more disgusting? This retouched fantasy of human physical perfection is not art. It’s propaganda.

And at the same time – even though we know how this distorted image of beauty makes us aim for something we’ll never reach – we still know that we cannot afford to not pursue it. Because everywhere people are telling us that we have to. It’s not just a superficial longing, it is our identity that is at stake. I don’t want to be ugly. Subhuman. I don’t want to be a failure; unworthy of consideration.

And yes, this is about women’s rights.  As it always has been. Where masculinity has traditionally been measured by status, femininity is measured by beauty. And sure, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but when all we see are models that would make Barbie cry, the standard of beauty has been distorted to an unhealthy level.

I have no idea what could be done about this. I don’t think banning this would have any influence, or even be possible. How do you tell these people (models, photographers, ect.) that prostituting themselves like this is not acceptable?

Because in the pursuit of beauty, there is no finish line. Nothing about us will ever be perfect. The need will always, always be there. There will always be just one more thing we could do. Or get. Or lose. It is a fool’s marathon. But I don’t care. I will run it anyway.
Augusten Burroughs

This post is a part of an opinions series where I speak my mind on topics that interest me. I have earlier on discussed abortion and the term single.