what defines beauty

What is beauty? That’s a question that has puzzled both men and women since antiquity. Is it just a matter of what appears pleasing to the senses? Does it depend on how someone is groomed to appear? What about for those who have handicaps or physical deformities? Understanding beauty is not just an intellectual pursuit, but it can have far-reaching implications for understanding oneself and one's place in society. This article explores the idea of beauty, what it means to be beautiful, and how our perceptions of beauty change with time.

On average, people find attractive faces or bodies attractive – go figure. But the truth is, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If a particular culture values slenderness, then women with a BMI of 18-19 are considered beautiful. In societies where muscularity is prized, then women with an 18% body fat percentage are considered beautiful. If a society condemns round shoulders or thighs in women, you’ll find that thin women have ‘no shoulders’ or ‘no thighs’ in order to conform to these beauty standards.

In less extreme cases, forms of plastic surgery come into play to help people who have what they perceive as flaws – or flaws that they think others see as flaws – to feel better about themselves. Some people choose to get non-surgical procedures, like Botox or lasers to smooth their skin or improve hair condition. Others may choose to wear makeup to hide blemishes or dark spots. Some may choose to limit their food intake, while others may use diet pills to help them lose weight.

Most people agree though that beauty is more than just the physical appearance. For example, a person’s inner beauty is sometimes said to be what makes a person truly attractive, yet many times we hear that inner character is something that can’t be seen with the naked eye and you have to ‘get to know someone’ before you can tell if they are truly beautiful inside and out.

When you look at a person, you probably take into account their physical appearance, speech and behavior. You also might judge them by what they are wearing and the condition of their shoes, hair, nails and skin. Studies show that people judge others by how they look on average right away. But what is it that we are judging? Is it just a matter of the attractiveness of their face or body? Or is there something beyond that?

A person’s beauty can be defined in many different ways: physical features, personality traits or those from within. It all depends on who you ask.