Beauty In Modern Western Society

1. Introduction

In the modern Western society, the outward appearance of a person is of great importance for every aspect of their life. Although this is true for both male and female individuals to a certain extent, especially women are under an enormous pressure to live up to one certain, very specific kind of beauty. The goal is to be slim, young, white and tall, to have big breasts and long legs with the image of the ‘Barbie doll’ prevalent at all times. Although certain traits of this ideal (such as youth) are existent in various parts of the world, especially in Western countries as well as the USA being thin has become the major aspect of the beauty ideal.

Bodies are spaces in which cultural practices are inscribed. Fat and thin are thus not mere body types, but carry various connotations referring to the character of the individual, such as fat equals lazy and out of control, slim equals being disciplined. As the requirements for individuals in the Western society are to be disciplined, controlled and active, especially in the USA, the stigmatisation of fat is omnipresent. (Erdman Farrell 2011: 6.)

Furthermore, fat bodies can be seen as ‘big’ bodies and from the physical aspect alone, they are taking up more space than thin bodies. This physical space that is taken up expands into society – a big body is more visible and connoted with attributes of strength and power than a slim, small one. (McKinley 1999: 99) The ideal of slenderness, which can be identified as