I say beauty is not in the eye of the beholder. Of course, when we watch the Miss Universe Pagaent together, my girlfriend and I never agree on who are going to win but that is because they are all beautiful. But I am talking about can anyone honestly say that the Elephant man is handsome. Or Janet Reno is beautiful? I am talking about physical beauty here so don't give me that personality, inner beauty crap because that is another subject. I have a 3 year old niece and even she can point out the beautiful people from the ugly one...
2007-09-11 17:06:42 · 20 answers · asked by gannoway 6 in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Smile. Bravo! It is a great question you have asked.
I'm afraid that nothing would make Janet Reno attractive, not even an Elephant man... not even in the eyes of the beholder... Sorry...
Let me say that beauty is a pretty cultural term. Standards change as you travel from western to eastern cultures. However, proportionate features have always been considered beautiful. Features should fit perfectly together: large eyes, high eye brows, straight nose and a pouty mouth will always be called beautiful. Clear skin, glossy hair and proportionate body parts will also add to someones physical appeal. However, in my own humble opinion, body parts and face features are never enough to make a person truly beautiful: kindness, great sense of humor and an open mind give you a certain spark in the eye, that makes everyone look twice as you walk by.
2007-09-11 18:39:41 · answer #1 · answered by ms.sophisticate 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder in that we all have different taste in what we find attractive. However, society plays a part - in certain places in Africa the fatter you are (and I mean HUGE) as a woman then the more desirable you are to the vast majority of men whereas here only a minority of men find very oversized women attractive.
2016-05-17 12:28:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I mean, the guy's nose falls off. Who thinks THAT is attractive?" Now THAT is funny!
Beauty is what we learn it is. At various times in history, concepts of beauty have been different. At one point, very large women were in vogue; at another point, androgyny was the thing; in Jamaica, larger girls are still considered sexier, in Latin countries, large butts have always been appreciated; in China, a long time ago, bound feet were beautiful; neck rings, nose rings, shaved heads...it's different depending on where you are and the era in which you live. It also changes throughout your life.
But then there are also commonalities in what appeals to people, and I've heard a few things about face and body symmetry and humans being programmed to subconsciously choose specific qualities for propagation of the species. So your niece might be choosing based on innate factors.
No...I can't honestly say that, but I would switch it around and say that the Elephant Man was beautiful and Janet Reno was handsome. My interpretation of beauty has very little to do with physicality. It's more of an essence. But I do agree that Michael Jackson's nose always falling off is not all that attractive.
2007-09-11 18:22:41 · answer #3 · answered by teeleecee 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Of course if your talking about physical beauty we all have a standard. But our standards are very different, like some people just love fat people, skinny, short, tall and other just love querky looks like a wierd shaped mouth or weird looking eyes so you might as well say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
That said I do believe that there is an overall standard that everyone can agree that someone is beautiful or would say beautiful looking but like you said, out of many beautiful ppl you may differ in your choice.
2007-09-11 17:48:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are both objective and subjective standards of beauty. we are more or less hardwired to find shiny,healthy hair, clear complexions and symmetrical faces attractive.
However, some things do change over time. In the past, pale skin was considered attractive and tanned skin was unattractive. It's a status thing, much like the changes in what body types are considered attractive. And individual tastes and preferences do play a role, sometimes running alongside or counter to fashion.
2007-09-12 12:58:05 · answer #5 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have standards.....however each person sets their own standars. Hence the fact you and your GF pick two different beauties to win the pagaent. Some like fat people.....in THIER eyes they are beautiful. However I dont go for the fat chicks. I'm as shallow as they come. But the truth remains that the beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.
2007-09-11 17:30:33 · answer #6 · answered by Mike 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
although society has set a certain standard to measure beauty - based on physical features- I still believe it lies in the eye of the beholder.
Yes, one cannot deny a person's physical beauty, but the whole package count. So may people have the most beautiful faces or bodies, but as soon as you discover that there is no personality, it spoils everything.
2007-09-11 18:44:16 · answer #7 · answered by godshandmaiden 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A mother can give birth to the ugliest baby alive and still believe without a doubt that her baby is the most beautiful baby ever created. This proves that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
2007-09-11 17:14:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, one man's meat is another man's poison, you cannot use extremes to prove the point, our perceptions vary, that is how the saying 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder' came to be.
2007-09-11 23:09:04 · answer #9 · answered by joe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not ALWAYS in the eye of the beholder. I mean seriously, it's not like there has NEVER EVER been an ugly person.
Who would HONESTLY say that someone such as Michael Jackson was superduperincrediblygorgeous?
I mean, the guy's nose falls off. Who thinks THAT is attractive?
2007-09-11 17:15:11 · answer #10 · answered by Chronos 2 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋