A Curious Stance on Cosmetic Enhancements

Key Points:

• Despite the generally accepted notion that correcting unchangeable flaws is admirable, society harbors mixed feelings towards cosmetic enhancements.
• Many consider improvements in appearance through cosmetic surgery as an act of vanity, whereas they perceive overcoming environmental or socioeconomic challenges as praiseworthy.
• Such distinctions suggest a deeper societal bias against surface-level improvements as opposed to internal or circumstantial changes.
• The debate also involves issues of perceived authenticity and self-love, with critics suggesting that cosmetic enhancements are expressions of insecurity rather than empowerment.

Hot Take:

Phantom of the Beauty Opera

Are cosmetic enhancements the proverbial lotion in the basket that society loves to hate? That awkward potato at Thanksgiving dinner that no one really wants to discuss? We’re living in a world where overcoming obstacles mountain-high is deemed applause-worthy, yet doing a bit of nip and tuck to fix that honker you inherited from dear ol’ Uncle Joe is seen as vain. What gives, world?

Seems our societal paradox-o-meter needs tuning. We’re stuck between celebrating reality TV shows that parade surgical transformations and then gasping in shock when your friend comes back from a summer break with a suspiciously well-contoured nose. This fascination yet repulsion implies a good ol’ wholesome dollop of hypocrisy that might be tougher to digest than Aunt Marge’s meatloaf at the aforementioned Thanksgiving dinner.

So as we peel back the layers of this societal onion, maybe instead of shedding tears over superficialities, it’s time we start asking – “If you feel like Kraken one moment and Aphrodite the next post-surgery, is it really for us to decide whether you’re ‘authentic’ or ’empowered’? Just remember to buckle up, buttercup, because it’s your life at the end of the day. YOLO…or maybe not, if science has its way, but that’s a topic for another day!”

Original Article: https://www.wired.com/story/lookism-beauty-philosophy-cosmetics/