magus.immortalis1
New member
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2009
- Messages
- 19
I know this is not related to Satanism, but it's really bothering me.
Beauty is important to me (it's in my chart) but for someone like me who does not fit the standards of what society deems beautiful, it's starting to create some real hangups.
I noticed that what is portrayed as "beautiful" in magazines is starting to take a detrimental toll on how I view myself and my body.
I would like to make peace with the way I look.
However, these media outlets value youth, beauty, slenderness, and lighter skin tones in non-white models. Youth is HUGE factor.
And models of visible minorities still fit into a very narrow ideal of beauty (small chin, straight nose, large eyes, full lips, tall, thin, etc.)
American publications (which is what I read, I don't know about publications from different countries)are starting to branch out with representing a more diverse range of models and skin tones. This is good. It's a start.
I switched to reading books on fashion, clothing and makeup, and couldn't help but notice that there is a HUGE diversity in body types, skin tones and ages in said books compared to magazines. Which is more realistic.
Here in North America, I noticed that tanned skin is all the rage. So is pale skin too. I am glad that models of different races is being used more in fashion magazine articles and runways, but there is still an overwhelming use of white models. Even on runways, designers prefer white models over models of other races. They take up 80% of the models.
Why is this?
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy seeing beauty in all races. When I go out I appreciate different women's styles, haircuts, their makeup and clothing style, whatever age, race or social-economic background they are from.
But in further researching, I came across these articles:
http://adventuresaroundasia.wordpress.c ... iter-skin/
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiap ... whitening/
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jul/26 ... hitening26
These whitening creams have hydroquinone and mercury in them. These are poisonous ingredients, and the levels in these cosmetics is very high, making it dangerous for the human body. And our skin is our largest organ and absorbs whatever we put on it.
Yet it is a billion dollar industry. Not just in China, but in India, Africa (there are so many videos on Youtube of Africans and African-Americans talking about using skin whiteners) and all over Asia. The actresses, socialities and models they use in their magazines and on their covers all have lighter skin. (The whiter the better, so these publications, movies, and other media imply.)
Even before China was opened up and started trading with the West, poets have exalted the skin that was pale as the moon, large eyes, petite stature and other feminine virtues. It's in their literature.
Why is lighter skin considered more beautiful, then?
Why is this ideal pushed on so many women, everyday?
That it is "normal" in society in China and so many other countries?
Why do men prefer this? And yes, men have been interviewed (in the articles I have come across) and majority prefer lighter skin in their mates.
What gives? What about the women who are medium toned or darker?
Is it something in people's genes, is it evolutionary instinct, is it the way humans are told to prefer one thing over another when it comes to beauty and choosing a mate?
Is it something else, that goes back to the beginning of human civilization and human royalty, that set the trends and precedents for what was considered beautiful and desirable?
My apologies for the long post, but I tried to cover it the best I can.
I welcome everyone's opinions and I value your perspectives.
Hail Satan!
Beauty is important to me (it's in my chart) but for someone like me who does not fit the standards of what society deems beautiful, it's starting to create some real hangups.
I noticed that what is portrayed as "beautiful" in magazines is starting to take a detrimental toll on how I view myself and my body.
I would like to make peace with the way I look.
However, these media outlets value youth, beauty, slenderness, and lighter skin tones in non-white models. Youth is HUGE factor.
And models of visible minorities still fit into a very narrow ideal of beauty (small chin, straight nose, large eyes, full lips, tall, thin, etc.)
American publications (which is what I read, I don't know about publications from different countries)are starting to branch out with representing a more diverse range of models and skin tones. This is good. It's a start.
I switched to reading books on fashion, clothing and makeup, and couldn't help but notice that there is a HUGE diversity in body types, skin tones and ages in said books compared to magazines. Which is more realistic.
Here in North America, I noticed that tanned skin is all the rage. So is pale skin too. I am glad that models of different races is being used more in fashion magazine articles and runways, but there is still an overwhelming use of white models. Even on runways, designers prefer white models over models of other races. They take up 80% of the models.
Why is this?
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy seeing beauty in all races. When I go out I appreciate different women's styles, haircuts, their makeup and clothing style, whatever age, race or social-economic background they are from.
But in further researching, I came across these articles:
http://adventuresaroundasia.wordpress.c ... iter-skin/
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/asiap ... whitening/
http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jul/26 ... hitening26
These whitening creams have hydroquinone and mercury in them. These are poisonous ingredients, and the levels in these cosmetics is very high, making it dangerous for the human body. And our skin is our largest organ and absorbs whatever we put on it.
Yet it is a billion dollar industry. Not just in China, but in India, Africa (there are so many videos on Youtube of Africans and African-Americans talking about using skin whiteners) and all over Asia. The actresses, socialities and models they use in their magazines and on their covers all have lighter skin. (The whiter the better, so these publications, movies, and other media imply.)
Even before China was opened up and started trading with the West, poets have exalted the skin that was pale as the moon, large eyes, petite stature and other feminine virtues. It's in their literature.
Why is lighter skin considered more beautiful, then?
Why is this ideal pushed on so many women, everyday?
That it is "normal" in society in China and so many other countries?
Why do men prefer this? And yes, men have been interviewed (in the articles I have come across) and majority prefer lighter skin in their mates.
What gives? What about the women who are medium toned or darker?
Is it something in people's genes, is it evolutionary instinct, is it the way humans are told to prefer one thing over another when it comes to beauty and choosing a mate?
Is it something else, that goes back to the beginning of human civilization and human royalty, that set the trends and precedents for what was considered beautiful and desirable?
My apologies for the long post, but I tried to cover it the best I can.
I welcome everyone's opinions and I value your perspectives.
Hail Satan!