The Battle Between Self-Love and Ugly-Shaming
BY SALMA EL SAEED
ENGLISH EDITOR
@salmaelsaeed
A lot of brands have in recent years been launching campaigns preaching self-love and acceptance of physical appearance, regardless of society’s measurements of beauty.
Despite these feel-good messages, it seems that the core issue of people not accepting “ugliness” remains entirely intact.
About two weeks ago, my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with pictures of an overweight Egypt Air stewardess, with some posting hateful comments about the airline’s “low standards” and others denouncing the fact that people are commenting on the woman’s appearance in the first place.
Last week, my newsfeed was flooded once more, but this time with articles about Renée Zellweger and the fact that her face had changed drastically over a short period of time.
Again, there were those who expressed their astonishment at Zellweger’s appearance and those who came bravely to her defense.
Here’s a piece of information that, judging by the content of my newsfeed over the past few weeks, will blow several readers’ minds: People age and, as they do, their appearance often changes. It’s a natural part of life and it happens to everyone.
I’m particularly appalled by the fact that people think that not aging with the same grace as Meryl Streep is grounds for Egypt Air firing that stewardess. I was not aware that airplane aisles were catwalks and that the only women allowed to walk them were those who fit society’s cookie- cutter definition of beauty.
Now, I understand that some people commenting on these posts were not making negative or mean remarks but all contributions, whether positive or negative, lent credence to the importance of discussing these two women’s looks.
This brings me to my next question: Why are we so utterly obsessed with something as finite and volatile as physical appearance?
Why do we place so much emphasis on maintaining a beautiful exterior when we know that nature will, sooner or later, take its course and said beauty will falter?
People’s appearance is not a topic for public discussion and it is most certainly not one for public humiliation, and I eagerly await the day when society actually applies the “love the skin you’re in” slogans instead of just admiring the allure of the message from afar.
