why is ugliness viewed as a flaw in our culture?

Question

doesn't it seem like ugliness is viewed as a flaw in our culture?

Answer 1

it does.. it shouldn't, but does.
it's in our nature to like pretty things and dislike ugly ones.
in relationships, it's hard to imagine being with someone you're not physically attracted to. and there is also the thought of what you're kids look like.. the last thing you'd want to do would be to bring someone else into a world that you know will criticize and harass them for being ugly...
i dont know... it's a rough subject, and one that i'm not sure will ever be taken care of..

Answer 2

No matter what culture you examine to their will always be less desirable physical features as called Ugliness. And ugliness is always considered a flaw by that culture. Their seems to be several reasons why people respond negatively to ugly:

1. People inherent assume physical abnormalities are an indication of other problems
2. Less desirable appearance is not pleasing to the eye and forces the viewer to not look as often, just as if you ate a horrible tasting food.
3.There may be something that forces us to respond to good looks positively for the purposes of choosing a mate.

Number 3 does have one flaw, that if this mating mechanism evolved in us then it should determine what is beautiful and it should be uniform for all humans. The decision of what is ugly seems to be a function of the society and not biology.

In a culture as vain as ours being ugly is a huge disadvantage and an unavoidable flaw. Luckily the cover of the book is not the whole story, it's just what you see first.

Answer 3

It depends on what the subject is. If a group of people refer something such as an attitude as being "ugly," then it is a flaw simply because it is undesireable.

Secondly, it depends on your definition. What is ugly to one person, can be beautiful to another. It's all relative. For example, Person A may like short hair, while Person B likes long... and they both think the other's style is "ugly." Does it make Person A's hair ugly just because Person B said it was? No!

When something is undesireable in our society, it becomes fact, law, truth...
It is so ingrained in our heads, for example, that a woman's body should look a certain way, what a real man should act like (don't cry, don't be a wimp..etc), how large or small 'something' should be.

The good thing is we have a choice to rise above that and see things for what they really are... not flawed, but instead, unique.

Answer 4

We judge people based upon how we see ourselves. If you are ugly you would not see ugly. If you are nice looking or perceive yourself to be nice looking then you think people are ugly. Many people disagree on ugly its a matter of perception. Sometimes you may think someone is ugly then you have a conversation with them and realize they don't seem to be ugly at all. At that point you have looked into their heart and mind and realize they are intelligent kind hearted people.Some very good looking people can become very ugly the minute they open their mouth. I don't know that you can say ugliness is viewed as a flaw in our culture. The fact that we judge people based upon appearance is a flaw.

Answer 5

It goes along with survival of the fittest. Mates are chosen for their ability to not just survive, but succeed in the world. Beauty is one factor in the decision - and it is the usually the first thing you notice about a person. Now if beauty was the only thing people noticed - then there would need to be some scientific research done to explain Howard Stern, Rick James, Mick Jagger, 50 Cent, etc.

Answer 6

it is a flaw.. because ugly to someone is something they dont enjoy looking at... it can change for every person.. a girl you think is hideous could be seen as the most beautiful to someone else.. its all in the eye of the beholder.. and no 2 people have the exact same views on things.. anyways i hope that answered your question

Answer 7

I don't think that culture causes people to view ugliness as a flaw.

Human genes and hormones control what men and women find attractive in each other. And no culture can make people like that which their genes and their hormones tell them is ugly.

Answer 8

The true flaw is thous who have to pass judgment on others, just because they don't look the Norm. Now what is Normal? Normal is what majority thinks. So if majority is what you say ugly. Then Ugly is normal.. Right?

Answer 9

Well, I think that people are shallow if they look at someone and judge them by how they appear on the outer. ON closer inspection, that is, getting to know someone, they may just find that the person is just as valid in the community than they are.
A fine example is this: There is a man that goes to my local shopping cent re, on first glance you could mistake him for a homeless man, a man of no wealth at all....then, if you took the pains to talk to him, you would soon see that he is actually THE OWNER of the entire complex!!! This is a true story I kid you not.
It is usually the perceive-rs' own inadequacies that screw up their judgment of a person by how they look, not what kind of a person they truly are!!!

Answer 10

Ugliness in the way they look is veiwed only as a flaw to me, if all I want is sex from someone. But if looking for a realtionship, the way they look doesnt bother me as much. Its just that we automatically get an impression by the way they look, we cant help it. Its those who bother to get to know the person anyway, that arent considered judgemental