Dispatches from Nowhere 02.07.06
Apparently, it's been done to death by people other than me, but I can't help myself. It is like watching a train wreck. It is sort of the shock and awe of my little world. Today, I am speaking of cosmetic surgery and the odd things we do to ourselves in the name of beauty.
I read something the other day that more and more teens are getting plastic surgery as graduation presents from high school. I'm not knocking the necessity of cosmetic surgery and think that there are legitimate advances to be made in that arena. I have a cousin that just turned 18 that had surgery to correct a malformed breast. I can understand that. It makes sense. Anal bleaching does not.
I know. It seems like an extreme example, but is it really? I don't think so. I think it is indicative of the extents we (as a culture) will go to achieve some transient standard of "Beauty". I mean really, how does having a brighter, shinier, anus make you any more attractive? I mean, unless you are a porn star.
I am a bit more put off by the idea that more and more teens are embracing surgery as a way to correct a supposed "defect" in who they are. Maybe it is just me, I don't like the homogeneity of noses jobs, breast implants, face lifts, botox, and the myriad of other surgeries and procedures designed to "perfect" the human animal. As I have stated, there are some legitimate uses of cosmetic surgery, the woman in France that received a partial face transplant for instance, but achieving "perfection" (however you define that) just does not strike me as one of them.
So why am I railing against cosmetic surgery? It is common. It has legitimate uses. And hey! It is on TV! It must be ok, right?
I disagree with the idea that there is one perfect, ideal body. I disagree that there is one perfect shape and size of breast, one perfectly symmetrical vagina, one perfect penis, one perfect nose, the perfect six pack chest. It is all lies. All of those things are beautiful, but each of those things is different for different people. Individuality is what makes each one of us beautiful. It is your individual appearance that is beautiful, not some surgeon’s approximation of “beauty”. You know this. I'm not saying anything your mom didn't tell you. If she did not tell you, maybe you should tell her.
There are legitimate uses for cosmetic surgery. I will say it over and over again, because it bears repeating. My concern is for those that view these surgeries as a way of making themselves feel better, not as a decoration of the physical (like a tattoo or piercing) but as a way of fixing themselves to meet some changing standard. It is not enough now that you have the perfect clothing, but now you have to have the perfect nose?
You might ask why I'm sticking with cosmetic surgery and not discussiong more common body modifications. I’m not talking about tattoos or piercings, not because those body modifications have become more mainstream, but rather because those modifications usually tend toward expressing individuality of the human wearing them. While it may be common to have a tattoo, usually no two are alike.
We push so many conflicting ideals today, not just for girls, but boys as well. Imagine that you are a teen now, how do you keep up? For that matter, as a parent, how do you impress the importance of inner beauty and self sufficiency on your children? How do you compete with the relentless onslaught? Another question for another day I suppose.
I read something the other day that more and more teens are getting plastic surgery as graduation presents from high school. I'm not knocking the necessity of cosmetic surgery and think that there are legitimate advances to be made in that arena. I have a cousin that just turned 18 that had surgery to correct a malformed breast. I can understand that. It makes sense. Anal bleaching does not.
I know. It seems like an extreme example, but is it really? I don't think so. I think it is indicative of the extents we (as a culture) will go to achieve some transient standard of "Beauty". I mean really, how does having a brighter, shinier, anus make you any more attractive? I mean, unless you are a porn star.
I am a bit more put off by the idea that more and more teens are embracing surgery as a way to correct a supposed "defect" in who they are. Maybe it is just me, I don't like the homogeneity of noses jobs, breast implants, face lifts, botox, and the myriad of other surgeries and procedures designed to "perfect" the human animal. As I have stated, there are some legitimate uses of cosmetic surgery, the woman in France that received a partial face transplant for instance, but achieving "perfection" (however you define that) just does not strike me as one of them.
So why am I railing against cosmetic surgery? It is common. It has legitimate uses. And hey! It is on TV! It must be ok, right?
I disagree with the idea that there is one perfect, ideal body. I disagree that there is one perfect shape and size of breast, one perfectly symmetrical vagina, one perfect penis, one perfect nose, the perfect six pack chest. It is all lies. All of those things are beautiful, but each of those things is different for different people. Individuality is what makes each one of us beautiful. It is your individual appearance that is beautiful, not some surgeon’s approximation of “beauty”. You know this. I'm not saying anything your mom didn't tell you. If she did not tell you, maybe you should tell her.
There are legitimate uses for cosmetic surgery. I will say it over and over again, because it bears repeating. My concern is for those that view these surgeries as a way of making themselves feel better, not as a decoration of the physical (like a tattoo or piercing) but as a way of fixing themselves to meet some changing standard. It is not enough now that you have the perfect clothing, but now you have to have the perfect nose?
You might ask why I'm sticking with cosmetic surgery and not discussiong more common body modifications. I’m not talking about tattoos or piercings, not because those body modifications have become more mainstream, but rather because those modifications usually tend toward expressing individuality of the human wearing them. While it may be common to have a tattoo, usually no two are alike.
We push so many conflicting ideals today, not just for girls, but boys as well. Imagine that you are a teen now, how do you keep up? For that matter, as a parent, how do you impress the importance of inner beauty and self sufficiency on your children? How do you compete with the relentless onslaught? Another question for another day I suppose.
posted by depressoboy at 11:38 AM
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