Why are people so obsessed with beauty/looking good??

Question

We're in a world where everything seems to revolve around beauty and looking good on the OUTSIDE. Or so this is 'beauty'.

Why are people so obsessed with it? People who are constantly obsessing over their looks and 'beauty' tend to have worse lives then those who don't obsess and simply live life and pay attention to the important things. Or so it seems.

What is with people anyway?? I don't get it. I've never been obsessed with fashion or anything like that, sure, I've had/have insecurities, but don't we all? Why does it seem we all seek perfection, when we're only human?

Personally, I'd rather save my makeup money and give it to a family in Africa who needs it.

But there aren't many me's, are there?

btw im not saying i dont wear makeup or try to look good. i do, but i dont OBSESS over it like some other people. i dont revolve my life around fashion or beauty. i will admit i have obsessed over insecurities but i think everyone has. and i think some people are obsessed with simply being beautiful, ive only been obsessed with being common looking.. when i guess ill never be. good or bad, i guess i stand out.

ec - my family is and always has been involved in charity. my parents actually founded an organization.. im not gonna say which one because if i do then that may just spill a lot of info lol but yeah.. and my mom and family continue to actively donate and my mom has gone overseas to help out a loott. my parents = both doctors and we all do charity work. i havent done anything in a while but i plan on definitely going one day and helping out for at least a month...

to me, charity is the most important thing in the world. the current university course im studying is so that i can later on continue on humanities and stuff. i would much rather help a family in need then buy myself concealer. much rather.

lol ec - i find that section retarded now. refer to the paris comparison!

well cant everyone be beautiful in their own way? not in the hollywood way, which isnt beautiful to me.. the most beautiful people in my eyes are those that were never conventional or fake. i dunno maybe im just being mean and judgmental but if i see someone whose had plastic surgery it turns me off.

and its not like i was born perfect either. i have many flaws, but if i can get past them then so can other people right? maybe theyre not flaws, maybe its society that tells us that. its not like im ever told im ugly. but i have those 'flaws'.

Answer 1

It has a lot to do with insecurity and the desire to be wanted, accepted and loved. Some people feel if they look a certain way, their lives will be better or easier.

In some ways it seems like physical beauty is rewarded in a similar way as having high intelligence or a great talent, etc...It's just a sad reflection of human nature and society.

But in the end, obsessing over looks is an exhausting and losing battle, because the human body is so fragile and easily damaged. Most importantly, the soul/spirit will be weakened in the process.

There's nothing wrong with celebrating our physical beauty as people, but it can certainly be self-destructive for a person to only value that one aspect of his or herself.

I think there are a lot of people who agree with you. The energy, time and money spent on seemingly trivial fashion trends could be used for something more meaningful or productive.

Answer 2

Actually there are quite a few. But I think you are somewhat of a special breed. A lot of people are obsessed with their looks, they think they are not thin enough, not good-looking enough, don't have the right clothes. In my old age I have learned that it really means nothing. I am old, and I do mean old, I just turned 50 and I feel like everyone considers me not a worthwhile person anymore. I still do care about what I look like and do the best with what I have. I will never stop caring about my pets or my significant other or my family. I have had a really, really hard time accepting the fact that I have gotten older, but you just have to deal with it. I used to sponsor a child when I was younger and could afford it. Kudos to your for being an real and unselfish person.

Answer 3

Interesting that you decide to ask this in the philosophy section, instead of psychology or fashion... I've had philosophy classes and this wasn't covered; I must have missed some of the lectures.

"I'd rather save my makeup money and give it to a family in Africa who needs it."

Do you actually do this? Charity is one of the hardest acts to perform despite the fact that human beings get a satisfaction out of it.

Good. Just the answer I was expecting. I applaud you. However, I am still a bit bitter that you have almost abandoned the 2006 WC, although the Paris comparison ... well nvm.

Answer 4

I agree. You have to look at those people and wonder if they are part of a MTV culture. They see skinny, modelesque women and they want to be the same exact way. In their minds, I think, they believe looking like this will result in fame, fortune and popularity. I am a guy and I don't really care too much for fashion (off the rack), I don't watch MTV and could care less about pop culture. You have to remember in the 50s, an hour glass shaped woman was sexy. Now it's gotten to where you have to be a twig in order to appear attractive. Me, personally, I judge women by personality, conversational skills then looks. That being said, looks are important and I don't mind a woman who has a little meat no her bones, but not morbidly obese. So in summation, I believe woman have taken this philosophy of having to look better than everyone else and in return, their personalities and ethics are greatly affected.

Answer 5

Oh Boy! So many reasons for this answer, but I'll just name a few. The media for one, commercials & avertising of all the products to make you look good and smell good. Vanity and people being insecure with who they are if they even know who they are on the inside. The mind set if you look good no one will reject you. Shallow, nothing deep going on inside the person. Age, depends on your age, older people tend to out grow the need for that kind of attention. Ok, I guess that's enough examples and I do understand what you are saying and there are plenty of people like you who see only the inner beauty.

Answer 6

We're a needy species. To be liked. To be loved. To be wanted. It is rare to find someone who is not concerned with this. After all, do you seek out the ugliest person in the group to date? Will you seek the ugliest person to marry and have children with? Will you seek out the most unattractive of friends.

Looking good is subjective, but it relates to the same issue.

I think it is that you hope others will look past your faults and shortcomings. Although this is more political than true.

Most people don't go rushing to those with neurofibramitosis for the great personalities that they might have -- even if they happen to be wearing the latest designer duds.

Answer 7

Beauty brings joy to the beholder so its natural for us to seek this. I think then that the realization of this truth it to find a way to ensure that our own beholders are able to appreciate our beauty in a manner that is easily available to the viewer.
You however are addressing a different question - what is beauty? Is it the values the media projects where one would be defined by photogenic qualities ? I think in that case it would be more a severe need to "fit in" because one knows one is not adequate for any other service to mankind.

Answer 8

Make up is the foundation to any beauty remedy. To hide the flaws in which only the user can see. Funny thing about make up is, the person looking at it is only intrigued of what the make up can do to a face, that hides behind a mask.

Answer 9

I, totally agree with almost everything you have said. The only difference between us is who we give money to to help them. I am on SSI disability, but I still manage to send money to the Oglala Lakota College on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The reservation has(through the Bureau of Native American Affairs) Pennsylvania Coal and Exxon on their property making billions of dollars, and they have illegal aliens making $27per hour. When they hire a Native American from the reservation they pay him $1 for every ton of coal he shovels by hand. This is wrong, but the Bush administration knows about it and lets it go. They have the highest unemployment rate in the nation at over 85%, but they also have(because of the College and their affliliates) the highest percentage of College graduates in the nation.

Answer 10

I think the biggest reason people are so obsessed with their looks is because we are constantly bombarded with things telling us what we should be. Ads, magazines, television shows all stress the importance of looking good and usually invoke certain fears to get us to comply. They usually make it seem that if you don't use their product you will age prematurely, members of the opposite sex wont like you and you're going to die alone, you wont be "cool" or just that people will look down on you or make fun of you.

Our society itself is obsessed with image. We constantly hold ourselves up for comparison with people like models and actors whose job it is to look good. They can afford to spend hours per day working out, getting primped, etc. because it's what they do. It's ridiculous. Would you try to compare your golfing ability to a professional golfer and then become sad and depressed because you didn't live up to that standard? Trying to meet a goal like this is impossible and is inevitably going to lead from a desire to look good to a psychological obsession.

The fear of aging is one of the most marketed beauty techniques out there. I don't know a woman over 40 who doesn't use some sort of "age-defying" product to try to make herself look "years younger." Trying to appear to be something you are not is always a bad idea. The worst part is the ads promoting this dishonest crap always try to hide their fear-mongering under the pretense of some last second phrase like "because you're worth it" or "true beauty knows no age limits." Does that mean that true beauty involves the use of creams that hide your age because you are so comfortable with the way you are? Total contradiction and bull****.

For America to stop placing so much emphasis on looks we have to stop worshipping those who represent the primary importance of physical beauty. Obsessing over celebrities and giving in to manipulative advertising is a dead end street and will only lead you to psychological torment.