The Double Bind of Beauty Work |
We are caught in a double bind caused by the societal value placed on physical attractiveness.
Too little beauty work elicits disgust; too much signals inauthenticity or vanity.
There is a tension created by these two conflicting expectations.
But there are ways of managing this tension.
Causing hearts to flutter and doors to open wide, physical attractiveness, with its broad social capital, gives us unmistakable advantages. It is a potent sorter of who ends up being with — or working for — whom. The target of Cupid's arrow, not only does physical attractiveness capture desire at "hello," but it also influences assumptions about other valued attributes — a "halo" effect. Skin deep? What is beautiful often seems good and even smart. The pixie dust of the "beauty premium" is hard to beat.
And so it is that we put considerable effort into looking our best. Our mirror on the wall is a necessity and works overtime. Venturing out into public requires a certain amount of sprucing up, and for prime time, we must look our very best. Think of the many things people do to look better, from temporary efforts (make-up, hair pieces) to permanent changes (face lifts, hair implants); from "natural" work (visits to the gym) to artificial work (Botox); from public efforts (at salons and barber shops) to private behaviors (like surgery, sometimes in foreign countries). As true as it may be that handsome is as handsome does, we'll take the benefits of handsome........