A culture fixation on female thinness is not an obsession about female beauty but an obsession about female obedience. Dieting is the most potent political sedative in women’s history; a quietly mad population is a tractable one.
Naomi WolfRead
Our society does reward beauty on the outside over health on the inside. Women must not be blamed for choosing short-term beauty "fixes" that harm our long-term health, since our life spans are inverted under the beauty myth, and there is no great social or economic incentive for women to live a long time.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote critiques societal beauty standards that prioritize external appearance over internal health, especially for women.
Naomi Wolf highlights the problematic nature of societal beauty norms that place a higher value on outward appearance than on health. She argues that women often face pressure to conform to these ideals, leading them to make choices for short-term beauty benefits that may negatively impact their long-term health. This reflects the deeper issues in society where cultural and economic motivations often contradict the need for sustainable well-being.
Themes
BeautyHealthSocietyWomenHealthcare
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on body image at a women's conference.
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Peaceful, lawful protest - if it is effective - IS innately disruptive of “business as usual.” That is WHY it is effective.
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