Body Shame and the Beauty Myth: How Patriarchal Societies Influence our Relationship with our Bodies

Body Shame and the Beauty Myth: Unpacking the Patriarchal Stranglehold on Our Bodies

In many patriarchal societies, a person’s value and self-worth are often tied to their physical appearance. This can lead to a pervasive sense of body shame, where individuals feel unworthy, inadequate, and self-conscious about their bodies. The beauty myth perpetuates this shame by elevating unrealistic beauty standards and associating them with social status, femininity, and power.

What is the Beauty Myth?

First coined by Naomi Wolf in her 1991 book "The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty are Used Against Women," the beauty myth refers to the cultural insistence that women must conform to rigid and changing beauty standards in order to be accepted as worthy and desirable. This myth permeates every aspect of women’s lives, from advertising and media to relationships and culture.

How Does the Beauty Myth Affect Women?

The beauty myth has far-reaching consequences for women. It:

• Unfairly assigns beauty to physical appearance: The beauty myth focuses on physical attributes such as hair texture, skin tone, and body shape, rather than inner qualities like kindness, intelligence, or empathy.


• Portrays women as objects: Commericial and media portrayals often reduce women to their physical appearances, commodifying and objectifying their bodies.


• Creates unrealistic expectations: Advertisements and media often use Photoshop and other editing tools to present an unattainable ideal body shape, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.


• Restricts women’s lives: The beauty myth can dictate the choices women make, such as choosing cosmetic procedures, dieting, or feeling pressure to conform to societal beauty norms.

How Does the Beauty Myth Affect Men?

While men may not face the same level of pressure to conform to beauty standards as women, the beauty myth can still have a significant impact. Men:

• Face beauty expectations: Men are often judged on their physical appearance, with factors like muscle mass, facial attractiveness, and grooming habits being scrutinized.


• Experience pressure to hide imperfections: Men may feel self-conscious about their bodies, especially as they age or experience weight gain or loss.


• May internalize gender biases: Men may internalize harmful gender stereotypes, leading them to believe they must be strong, capable, and attractive to be considered masculine.

How Do Patriarchal Societies Contribute to Body Shame?

Patriarchal societies reinforce the beauty myth by perpetuating harmful gender roles and reinforcing existing power structures. This leads to body shame in several ways:

• Gender binary: The gender binary (the idea that there are only two genders, male and female) creates false dichotomies, leaving individuals who don’t fit neatly into these categories feeling marginalized and ashamed of their bodies.


• Heterosexual normativity: The pressure to conform to heteronormative beauty standards further perpetuates body shame.


• Patriarchal oppression: The systemic oppression of women, marginalized genders, and people of color means that their bodies are often viewed as less valuable, leading to feelings of shame and self-doubt.

The Impact of Body Shame

The combination of the beauty myth and patriarchal society leads to a pervasive sense of body shame. This can result in:

• Eating disorders and disordered eating: The pressure to conform to beauty standards can lead to disordered eating behaviors, such as restrictive eating or bulimia.


• Body modifications: Individuals may resort to self-mutilation, tattooing, or other forms of body modification in an attempt to conform to beauty norms.


• Mental health concerns: Body shame can contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.


• Sexual shame: Gender and sexual minorities may feel shame about their bodies, leading to reluctance to engage in sexual activities or feelings of inauthenticity.

Reclaiming Our Bodies

In order to break free from the stranglehold of the beauty myth and patriarchal societies, we must:

• Reject societal beauty standards: Challenge unrealistic and oppressive beauty norms, embracing our natural bodies and individuality.


• Foster self-acceptance: Cultivate self-love, self-compassion, and self-awareness, recognizing that our bodies are beautiful just as they are.


• Build a more inclusive society: Recognize and celebrate diversity, challenging and dismantling systems of oppression.

By acknowledging the harm caused by the beauty myth and patriarchal societies, we can begin to reclaim our bodies and free ourselves from the shackles of body shame. It’s time to celebrate the unique beauty and worth of every individual, rejecting the oppressive beauty standards and promoting a culture of inclusivity and respect.

About the author

Rhose Mendoza

I am Rhose Mendoza, a skincare enthusiast and writer. With a background in marketing and a passion for beauty, I share my knowledge and experience on skincare through my writing. My goal is to educate and empower my readers to make informed decisions about their skincare.