While we live in a society where thin women draw the envy of many, there has been recent backlash in the form of “Real Women Have Curves” campaigns and internet phenomena. They are rejecting the model standard of thinness and calling for full-figured women to love their bodies. However, this movement has inspired an unexpected response. Thin women are responding to these claims that they are somehow less worthy of attractiveness and womanhood due to their size. Regan Smith i

R. Patel is the eldest of two daughters. Her family migrated to the United States from India. She remains deeply rooted and involved in her native culture. We spoke about the nature of attractiveness in Indian society. “Celebrities are a big deal with Indians,” she said. This point is illustrated by the massive popularity of Bollywood movies, which have gained worldwide recognition. In the course of one day, 14 million Indians attend movies, according to Matt Rosenberg, a ge

Gabriela Sanchez is of Hispanic descent; her family can be traced back to Venezuela and Nicaragua. I asked her to discuss the differences and similarities in perception of beauty between the Hispanic and American cultures. She initially pointed to the different processes in coming out as a woman in the two cultures. She says this is when parents allow female children to participate in the conventional beauty treatments we see today. “In America, you have the sweet sixteen. We

The effects of presentations and perceptions of beauty in society are not solely felt by women. The male perception of women can be impacted as well. Additionally, men are just as likely to be affected by the way their attractiveness is defined by the masses, which is a highly overlooked concept in our culture. I asked college student, Daniel Cooksey, to discuss what it means to be a man and how society beholds male beauty. Q: Can men be beautiful? A: Yes. They can be because