Why Does Society Value Beauty as Worth?

 by Faye Rustell

Something that recently came to my attention was the fact that beauty is, at times, valued as having worth in society. I was involved in a brief conversation where I was discussing matters of prejudice against women, issues of catcalling and sexual abuse and I quickly came to realise that today, we now reward beauty and sterotypically ‘beautiful people’ in a way that I find to be extremely questionable. 

To give some background on this matter, one only needs to look at Vogue magazines, fashion shows, advertising etc to get an idea of the extent as to which certain individuals are being rewarded for their appearance over their personality or intellect. Supermodels are prime examples of the huge amount of money that is in the modelling industry with Kendall Jenner as the highest paid supermodel, earning $22.5 million in the 12 months prior to June 2018 for her appearances with names like Marc Jacobs, Victoria Secret, Chanel and Tommy Hilfiger. Alongside her modelling, this inevitably comes with a huge fan base and following, 196 million on Instagram and a surge of critics and media behind her, critiquing her every move. However, it cannot be ignored that the industry is constantly criticised for their effects on mental health in young girls and harsh requirements that these women go through in order to reach the top. Their bust, waist and hip measurements must fall within a certain category, they must be within a certain height, a certain dress size, an interesting facial feature or perfect symmetry, let alone the strict regime of workouts and dieting paired with the stresses mentally and physically of their daily lives travelling around the world.

Yet, all of these materialistic qualities are somehow rewarded by representing a renowned designer or receiving a large paycheck, both of which demonstrate that in the 21st century, beauty is undeniably being rewarded. Whilst arguably this is the career and income of certain individuals, it seems archaic and the product of a bygone era that we are still gifting these ‘beautiful’ members of society, placing them on a pedestal and subconsciously providing a role model for young girls. 

It’s no surprise that we’re struggling with this issue today as this dates back historically to the 1940s with the world's first supermodel Evelyn Nesbitt, and even before that in the mid 19th century when clothes began to be modelled for the first time. Marilyn Monroe is mostly remembered as one of the most ‘beautiful’ women of the 20th century and a huge sex symbol of the 50s and 60s. Whilst she was actually an American actress and strived to generate her career through her acting work, it is easy to forget this as she was repeatedly exploited for her appearance using it for gain. Her looks essentially made her famous as her modelling career first got her name into the public due to her being photographed in the mid 1940s, allowing her to gain close contacts with the rich and famous and political elites, such as the Kennedy brothers, Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller. There has been huge debate and controversy surrounding her death and her relationship with prescription abuse and it can’t be overlooked that these may be linked to the fame she acquired as she received the name of the ‘blonde bombshell’. 

The issue I have with beauty being rewarded is that we’re failing to see the person for who they are. In the same way that Monroe’s acting career can easily be ignored due to her appearance, various models are simply being given opportunities and fame based primarily on their looks and the fact that they are able to meet the requirements of modelling agencies. They have created a criteria that is incredibly difficult for women to meet if they aspire to, and by women being rewarded with brand partnerships, money and perks from fame, society has allowed every generation of girls from now on to feel as though they should aspire to look like these icons as somehow, that has value.