by M. F. Cunningham

Created on: January 05, 2010   Last Updated: January 06, 2010

If you want "political correctness", I'll be cute and say both or "inside". But if you want the awful truth, real beauty as defined by this American society is based solely on the outward appearance and appeal of an individual. Yeah, I said it, and as harsh, shallow and as ugly as that may sound it is the truth!

We as American citizens have bought into this as well. I am not so sure either if it is just America, but I think that every country and society has their own standards of beauty.

I too have fallen prey to and continue to adhere to this standard of beauty. I dye my hair, dress in the latest fashion, watch my weight and figure, wear make-up and the tireless list goes on. Suffice to say, I am a young-looking fifty-three, or so I've been told.

We live in a society where “Botox” rules and getting plastic surgery to fix one thing or another has become a necessity if you want to keep your job in some professions.

Models, actors, television journalist and anyone who is constantly being seen or viewed by the public are driven in their desires to look youthful and attractive. And we ourselves often make comments about whose “looking old”.

Studies have also shown that attractive people get job interviews more readily and get the jobs more often if they are deemed attractive by the person interviewing them.

Those same studies have indicated that school children respond favorably to attractive teachers and think that attractive and prettier teachers are smarter. Babies have also been known to respond positively to attractive faces.

I know that it is very uncomfortable hearing this, but it is what it is. Even in the Bible, the most attractive virgins married the wealthiest kings. So now, what do you have to say?

I know that there will be those who will say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. It sounds good if you repeat it enough. But we all know that being attractive to others matter greatly to us.

A woman’s (females) self-esteem is totally tied to their appearance and attractiveness. Unfortunately, we are judged more harshly on attractiveness than males. It’s not fair but that’s just the way it is.

Men don’t necessarily get a free pass on staying fit or attractive either. They have bought into this fantasy as well, which tells them that they will have a wonderful and exciting life if they just stay handsome and fit.

This is shown by recent statistics which states that men are going under the knife and having more plastic surgery in order to appear more youthful and fit.

The harsh reality is that in this society, attractiveness or the lack thereof is determined by ones outward appearance. Is it fair? No, but that’s just the way it is!

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