"Cosmetic Procedures"

Image Source: Pierce Mattie


Last week I received a mailing congratulating me on my engagement and alerting me to the various cosmetic procedures that I should really take advantage of to look my best. Likewise, many of the advertisements on my facebook try to appeal to my insecurities and tell me that their invasive procedures can change my life and help me become more beautiful. The services offered ranged from laser hair removal to permanent cosmetics (read tattooing makeup on your eyelids, lips or eyebrows) to liposuction to masking unsightly veins.

I take issue with these procedures on several levels. First, undergoing any of these methods would not make me look my best as promised, but would rather remove, alter or reorganize normal parts of my body in a way that would align me more closely to conventional beauty standards. While I would never claim to be immune from the pull that these standards have, drastic, expensive procedures that mutilate my body in order to ensure that I can more closely conform to these standards is way over the top. The focus and emphasis women are taught to place on their physical looks, their bodies and faces is time-consuming and painful and keeps many women distracted from pursuing other more important things. It strikes me that in so many regards women are asked to put others first and think so little of themselves and their own needs. Yet on the other hand, women are also expected to attain levels of beauty that require near self-absorption. When will women get the time and space they need to explore activities and arrangements that are fulfilling? When will this need for fulfilling activity for women be considered to be enough for society to consider this time well spent, regardless of how it benefits children, husbands and partners or society?