We all are very aware of the age old idiom "beauty lies in the eye of the beholder". What does this really mean in today's world? I am writing this as I am tired of looking at various advertisements screaming on your face, be it print media, hoardings, tv, radio and not to forget social media networks on how to enhance your beauty with the help of cosmetics (oh i do love using those that give a natural look), and the new age dermatology clinics offereing laser treatments (all those permanent removal of hair and spots and marks), botox, venus freeze, permanent make up look. Though I have nothing against people who opt for these or those who are making the offers, what is worrying is the claims these advertisments make. Do they really deliver what they have promised?
And why is it so important to look a certain way that is supported and projected in advertisements with actors proclaiming these to be the best products available. I mean do these actors promoting the fair and handsome, veet and navratan oil really use these products? How can beauty be skin deep? Also we have been molded to think right from childhood that fair, thin is beautiful (and also intelligent) whereas dark and oevrweight is not acceptable. Rather than focussing on looks, it would have been ideal if we were taught how to build personalities, how to hold on to an interesting conversation, to be avid readers and to be more involved with nature.
Even now (actually it's more visible because of easy availability of so called brands), I see new parents obsessed with dressing children and training them to make fashion choices even before they learn how to walk. In today's world, especially in India, it is important to break the age old diktats how children have been brought up. Managing a kitchen and household work is essential for boys to learn (remember those days where we as girls were called in the kitchen and the boys allowed to play and we thought it was a normal part of growing up) as girls are breaking the stereotype and contributing (expected to as they earn money at par with their spouses) financially to run the house. Similarly blue is for boys and pink for girls cannot coexist in a world where women are increasingly becoming independent. We need to think is it fair to expect women to be fair, beautiful, make money, run the kitchen and manage the house where the men are only getting balder with a paunch and continue to watch tv after coming from work. Yes, there are men who take care of themselves (workouts and waxing) but that is a small percentage.
I guess its time to rethink how we are looking at our social roles and how we are molding our children's future. Can we redefine beauty and change the social construction of roles?
And why is it so important to look a certain way that is supported and projected in advertisements with actors proclaiming these to be the best products available. I mean do these actors promoting the fair and handsome, veet and navratan oil really use these products? How can beauty be skin deep? Also we have been molded to think right from childhood that fair, thin is beautiful (and also intelligent) whereas dark and oevrweight is not acceptable. Rather than focussing on looks, it would have been ideal if we were taught how to build personalities, how to hold on to an interesting conversation, to be avid readers and to be more involved with nature.
Even now (actually it's more visible because of easy availability of so called brands), I see new parents obsessed with dressing children and training them to make fashion choices even before they learn how to walk. In today's world, especially in India, it is important to break the age old diktats how children have been brought up. Managing a kitchen and household work is essential for boys to learn (remember those days where we as girls were called in the kitchen and the boys allowed to play and we thought it was a normal part of growing up) as girls are breaking the stereotype and contributing (expected to as they earn money at par with their spouses) financially to run the house. Similarly blue is for boys and pink for girls cannot coexist in a world where women are increasingly becoming independent. We need to think is it fair to expect women to be fair, beautiful, make money, run the kitchen and manage the house where the men are only getting balder with a paunch and continue to watch tv after coming from work. Yes, there are men who take care of themselves (workouts and waxing) but that is a small percentage.
I guess its time to rethink how we are looking at our social roles and how we are molding our children's future. Can we redefine beauty and change the social construction of roles?
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