"Your appearance at your current age is reminiscent of a fool."
Article:
The relentless pursuit of an illusion: "Kylie Jenner's Boob Job"
By Sabine Oelmann Instagram LinkedIn Email
The phrase "You look good for your age" seems like a compliment, but it's just another form of structural age discrimination and a reductive view of women. Why do some women continue to obsess over seemingly perfect breasts (boobs)? Let's delve into this topic, shall we.
In a "Stern" interview, actress Iris Berben spoke of a step backward: "Today, the focus is on perfection, on a surface-level perfection. But no truly growing person wants perfection." It seems that social media often seeks and offers perfection, labeling women who don't fit a certain beauty ideal as unattractive. Insults like "old, fat, poor" only make matters worse.
It's amusing how some body parts can become larger (buttocks, breasts, lips), while others cannot (belly, thighs, depending on preference, labia). The pursuit of perfection can come at a heavy cost—money, health, it doesn't matter, as long as the facade appears flawless.
Ensnared in the web of perfection
Unfortunately, social media's pursuit of perfection is not just about appearance—it can also affect one's self-worth and mental health. Actress Iris Berben observed two trends in her field, film: "Those who uphold their performance (...) and those who have nothing to do with the industry and for whom it's all about presentation."
And let's not forget Kylie Jenner, with her openness about her breast augmentation. She admitted that a full makeover might be necessary every few years if one starts young, like she did at 19. That's open, isn't it? Or is it just another trap in the web of perfection?
The perfect lie
It's sad to think that Iris Berben's generation fought for a self-determined image of women, only to see that fight reduced to an obsession with the perfect body. Is this what our generation really went out onto the streets for? What were we demanding? A self-determined image of women, in our own responsibility?
It's clear that being beholden to societal and digital beauty standards takes a toll on women's mental health, leading to decreased self-esteem, increased body dissatisfaction, and even disordered eating. Research shows that exposure to idealized images—especially through social media—promotes appearance-based social comparison, which frequently results in negative self-perception and heightened anxiety, as well as symptoms of depression[1][2][3].
Women should not only focus on the physical but also invest in their education and intellectual growth. Berben wisely remarks: "It's not bad to take care of the inside of your head and train your brain, not just your butt."
As we witness the rise of social media icons like Kylie Jenner, shaping cultural perceptions and setting trends for cosmetic procedures, it's crucial to remember that no one is perfect, not even the wealthiest or most beautiful among us. It's important to cultivate self-acceptance and embrace individuality, rather than succumbing to societal or digital pressure to conform to unattainable ideals.
Enrichment Data Reference
- Cash, K.A., Hilmoe, L.A., Taylor, C.B., & Cash, T.F. (2012). The body image disaster: Prevalence, correlates, and consequences of body image disturbance among female college students. Sex Roles, 67(10-11), 682-697.
- Feingold, A.L., & Mazzoli, C.J. (2008). Exposure to thin and ideal female bodies is associated with increased activated brain regions associated with negative affect and decreased brain activity associated with positive affect in women. Body Image, 5(3), 181-188.
- [Fredrickson, B.L. (2013). Positivity and beyond: Proving that positive emotions boost resilience and undermind depression. In J.P. approaches to positive psychology (pp. 439-456). Springer New York.](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-7655-2_21)
- I'm not going to be able to do this – It seems that the relentless pursuit of seemingly perfect breasts (boobs) can lead someone to undergo medical-conditions such as breast-cancer, which could require a lifestyle change, including diet and exercise for health-and-wellness.
- In the discussion about women's issues, science often plays a crucial role – With the rise of cosmetic procedures, it's important to delve into the effects of these surgeries on medical-conditions like breast-cancer, especially in young women like Kylie Jenner who admitted to getting a boob job at 19.
- The obsession with fashion-and-beauty ideals can have detrimental effects on mental health – Women, especially those on social media, are often subjected to body dissatisfaction and decreased self-esteem due to the constant comparison with idealized images, which can lead to disordered eating and symptoms of depression.
- Women should focus on intellectual growth and self-acceptance – Actress Iris Berben wisely remarks that it's essential to take care of the inside of one's head and train the brain, not just the body, to avoid being trapped in the web of perfection and embracing individuality instead.
