Beauty ideals were as tough in the middle ages as they are now

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Beauty Ideals Were as Tough in the Middle Ages as They Are Now

Once again, I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny that permeates the world we live in. Standards of beauty have been embedded in different cultures, in varying forms, from time immemorial. The standards that women and, increasingly, all people are expected to meet to embody a certain level of beauty, are often based on binary notions of idealized forms of femininity or masculinity, or both.

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Women’s bodies have been pathologized throughout history, from Plato’s notion of the “wandering womb” which was used to account for every female physical and emotional ailment. In medieval humoral theory, women were considered cold and wet in constitution, and more prone to certain afflictions.

The association of beauty with health, and ugliness with disease, has been taken up in more recent feminist debate over the modern cultural obsession with women’s appearance as an epidemic. It’s no wonder that instances of anxiety, depression, eating disorders and dysmorphia can all be connected to modern – and indeed, pre-modern – people’s experience of beauty standards.

In her 1991 book “The Beauty Myth”, Naomi Wolf argued that the standards of western female beauty were used as a weapon to stagnate the progress of women. But in medieval culture, such pressures were doubly weighted, since beauty was closely aligned with morality: beauty was associated with goodness and ugliness with evil.

Beauty Ideals of the Middle Ages

In the middle ages, beauty was a key to power, crucially connected to wealth, privilege, youth, and maidenhood – to create a “perfect” sort of femininity. Medieval gender norms emphasized the importance of a woman’s beauty and virginity in marriage, while her worth was also measured by her ability to bear children and manage the household.

For women who did not fit into these narrow expectations, the pressure to conform was immense. Those who failed to meet the standards of beauty were often marginalized, shamed, and ostracized. This could be seen in the extreme cases of women who mutilated themselves to avoid marrying or to conform to the standards of beauty.

The medieval cult of beauty was not just limited to physical appearance, but also included virtues such as chastity, obedience, and humility. Women who failed to live up to these standards were seen as inferior and undesirable.

Beauty Ideals of Today

Fast-forward to today, and we see that beauty standards are still deeply entrenched in our society. Women are bombarded with unrealistic expectations of beauty, from the beauty standards set by the media to the unattainable physical ideals of fashion and Hollywood.

The pursuit of beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry, with the global beauty market expected to reach $650 billion by 2025. This is driven by the increasing demand for anti-aging products, hair care products, skincare, and makeup.

Conclusion

The quest for beauty is a timeless human obsession, and it’s clear that this desire for beauty has been with us for centuries. From the medieval saints who mutilated themselves to conform to the standards of beauty, to the modern women who undergo extreme measures to attain beauty, the desire for beauty has driven human behavior.

While we have made progress in challenging traditional beauty standards, we still have a long way to go. It’s time for us to recognize the beauty of diversity and individuality, and to stop perpetuating unrealistic expectations of beauty.

FAQs

Q: What are the roots of beauty standards in medieval society?
A: Beauty standards in medieval society were rooted in the notion of feminine virtues, such as chastity, obedience, and humility. Women who failed to live up to these standards were seen as inferior and undesirable.

Q: How did women resist beauty standards in medieval society?
A: Some women resisted beauty standards by mutilating themselves, such as cutting off their noses or breasts, to avoid marrying or to conform to the standards of beauty.

Q: What are the consequences of beauty standards on women’s self-esteem?
A: The pressure to conform to beauty standards can have devastating consequences on women’s self-esteem, leading to low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Q: What is the modern beauty industry’s role in perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards?
A: The modern beauty industry plays a significant role in perpetuating unrealistic beauty standards, through the marketing of anti-aging products, hair care products, skincare, and makeup, which create unrealistic expectations of beauty.