Universal ideal of beauty ?

Question

Is there a universal ideal of beauty ?? If not, do you know what it is in some different countries ? Just curious about this. I know beauty does go beyond looks but for now I am asking just about physical appearance.

Thanks :)

Answer 1

Beauty truly is in the eyes of the beholder. In many modern Western cultures for instance, thin women are considered attractive. However in other parts of the world, and in more ancient Western times, plump women were attractive. A plump woman was seen as more attractive because that meant she was well-fed, so 1. she had access to reliable food resources, and 2. any children she had would be more likely to survive and not starve.

Beauty is heavily influenced by culture, but individual tastes also play a strong role that should not be underestimated. Personally, I don't see how there possibly could be any universal ideal of beauty. If there is one, I have yet to see it.

Answer 2

There are cultural ideals of beauty, not a universal ideal.

Most of them, at least in regards to women, are related to the physical symbols of the ability to become a mother. In several African cultures, a woman with a large posterior is considered attractive because the fat reserves show she has the capacity to go through a pregnancy.

Large breasts also serve as the same kind of symbol in other parts of the world.

We have almost all seen the pictures of women with multiple rings around their necks, raising the head to a degree that the women would die if the rings are removed.

There are dozens of such examples available.

Answer 3

No,there isn't an ideal of beauty shared by everyone,but there is a concept of beauty which is universal. Beauty is whatever pleases your eyes - that's why some people find beautiful things we just consider horrible. It's a property that brings satisfaction when you see it - we all feel pleased when we see beauty. But you can't find an example of something that is universally beautiful - but ask people what beauty is and their definitions will all match.

Answer 4

Symmetry, baby! Gimme some of that sexy symmetry!

We humans have a tendency to be attracted to those with proportional features. This is an genetic response that represents health. What better genes for your off-spring than someone who is genetically healthy? That is the key to the so-called universal physical beauty you write about.

The true beauty of being human is that we can see beyond this.

What is odd about being human is that we change our appearances according to a given society's idea of beauty. Even to extreme measures we do some pretty funky things to ourselves.

Answer 5

I think that to be universally beautiful you would have to be skinny,tall,just basically look like a model

Answer 6

Skinny, pretty and perfect skin. Although beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Answer 7

The Roman's and most ancient societies considered slightly over-weight women to be attractive, since skinny women were usually poor peasants.

Answer 8

skin,hair,and eyes are a great deal.
But beauty ideas change over time.In the 1800s they used to think a heavier woman was beautiful.Now our models are forced into bulimia and anorexia to get that "i dont eat" look.The same looks that force girls into bulimia and anerexia and ruin young lives.Lets just hope our idea of beauty changes before the whole world goes to hell.

Answer 9

Pureness!

Answer 10

objective beauty=proportionality+order+simplicity