The response to eurocentric Beauty standards has been to diversify and include more people of marginalized identities. But this vital response alone is not enough. Our society regards Beauty as something inherently aspirational, noble, and good. Is it? Full transcripts to all episodes are available here.
Even as more people are included, the terms and conditions of inclusion are exclusive and rooted in the same toxic beauty standards. At the same time, Beauty still functions in harmful ways to exclude and ostracize the most marginalized. What, exactly, are we fighting to be included within? What are the ugly ways that Beauty functions in our society? What is the Ugliness of Beauty?
In this series, I invite you to reconsider Beauty as a social heirarchy, and move towards reimagining what Beauty (or something much better!) could be. I hope you enjoy this episode and if you do, leave a review and share it with a bestie!
Highlights:
(03:28) Reframing capital B Beauty
(04:10) What could beauty be? More on this in later episodes…
(05:25) What is the paradox of Beauty?
(12:54) Why is Beauty ugly + what does Beauty do?
(17:51) Roles within the supply chain
(26:25) How our obsession with beauty reinforces our obsession with whiteness
(34:50) The allure of Beauty & how it justifies racism, oppression and exploitation
(45:27) The ugliness of beauty as a political concept
Sources:
Audre Lorde Essay: The Transformation of Language into Silence and Action
“Moving Toward the Ugly: A Politic Beyond Desirability” by Mia Mingus
Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Ant-fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da'Shaun L. Harrison is a fantastic book and resource! Follow them on Twitter here @DaShaunLH
On the Politics of Ugliness book edited by Sara Rodrigues and Ela Przybylo
My links:
Substack: ayandastood.substack.com
Tiktok: @ayandastood
Podcast Instagram: @reimaginingwithayandastood
My Instagram: @ayandastood
The Ugliness of Beauty Part 1