health
February 3, 2026
Age brings an opportunity to escape the clutches of unattainable beauty standards – it’s liberating
Even as I’ve spent my entire adult life wanting to look different, I’ve found and cultivated other parts of myself that have nothing to do with appearance
TL;DR
- The author's high school experience in a changing room revealed a deep internalization of societal beauty standards.
- She felt shame and disgust towards older women who were unconcerned with their bodies' appearance.
- At 36, she experiences liberation at the beach, feeling unconcerned about her appearance.
- This liberation contrasts with her ongoing efforts to adhere to beauty standards, creating a perplexing contradiction.
- Feminist awareness of beauty standards' link to social value clashes with the desire for male attention and societal relevance.
- The author suggests that conventionally attractive women may doubt other aspects of their personhood, while those not considered conventionally attractive are forced to value themselves differently.
- She posits that a fundamental societal shift, detaching looks from the equation, could lead to freedom of self-expression.
- Aging is presented as an opportunity to embrace this shift, rather than fighting its effects.
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