Is Society Using Beauty Standards to Keep Women "Down"?

For this post I asked Gemini, Google’s chat-based AI tool, to help me think through something that I’ve wondered about from time to time - is society against the advancement of women and thus using beauty standards to “keep them down”? My sincerest hope is that, of course, there is no broad-scale movement to make the lives of ambitious & self-aware women a living hell but modern media & culture seem to show me otherwise 😔 

Although the pursuit of youthful beauty has long been a universal human desire, the modern beauty industry has played a major role in shaping our ideas about aging and appearance. Here’s a not-so-fun fact - did you know that an industry that primarily sells to women happens to be dominated by men in the boardroom & C-suite executive-level positions? In other words, men are at the forefront of beauty brands, ultimately deciding what is considered “beautiful”.

Below is what Gemini responded with when I asked it to put together a timeline showing anti-aging advertising campaigns in parallel with women's rights movements in the US. I’ve always thought that yes women’s rights/power have definitely increased over time in modern society but not without an opposing force that still finds a way to limit the height that a woman can reach.

It’s truly a fascinating view of history which has provided a thought-provoking starting point for further exploration and discussion for me, and now hopefully for you as well. Enjoy!

A Parallel Timeline: Anti-Aging Ads and Women's Rights in the US

Throughout history, the beauty industry's quest for "eternal youth" has often intersected with the fight for women's rights in the US. Here's a timeline exploring this intriguing interplay:

1910s:

• Women's Suffrage Movement: The fight for women's right to vote gains momentum, with Alice Paul leading hunger strikes and protests.

• Anti-Aging Creams Emerge: Pond's Cold Cream and Woodbury's Facial Soap market themselves as essential tools for a youthful appearance.

1920s:

• Flappers & Bobbed Hair: Women embrace a new era of freedom and self-expression, defying traditional beauty norms with shorter hair and daring fashion.

• The Rise of Makeup: Max Factor creates stage makeup for Hollywood stars, later making it available to the public, influencing everyday beauty routines.

1930s:

• Great Depression: Women face economic hardship and increased responsibilities, but also gain opportunities in traditionally male-dominated fields.

• Focus on Youthful Skin: Ads for Pond's and Woodbury's emphasize the importance of maintaining a youthful appearance for career success and attracting partners.

1960s:

• Second Wave Feminism: The fight for equal rights expands to include workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and ending domestic violence.

• "The Feminine Mystique" & Natural Beauty: Betty Friedan's book challenges societal expectations that confine women to domestic roles, and a natural beauty movement emerges.

1970s:

• Equal Pay, Title IX: Women fight for equal pay and opportunities in education and sports, challenging gender stereotypes and discrimination.

• Anti-Aging Anxiety: Ads shift focus from wrinkles to lines and "age spots," capitalizing on women's anxieties about aging and linking it to declining attractiveness and value.

1980s:

• Power Dressing & Working Women: Women embrace bold fashion and makeup to project confidence and competence in the workplace.

• The Science of Anti-Aging: Cosmetic companies leverage scientific advancements to introduce anti-aging creams with retinol and collagen, emphasizing a more "scientific" approach to beauty.

  

1990s & 2000s:

• Body Positivity & Diversity: Movements advocating for body acceptance and celebrating diverse beauty standards gain traction, challenging the narrow definition of beauty promoted by the media.

• Botox & Fillers: Injectable procedures become increasingly popular as a less invasive approach to anti-aging, raising concerns about unrealistic beauty standards and potential health risks.

2010s & Present:

• #MeToo & Inclusivity: Movements against sexual harassment and discrimination highlight the importance of women's voices and experiences, leading to calls for greater diversity and representation in the beauty industry.

• Holistic Wellness & Inner Beauty: A growing focus on self-care, mental health, and healthy aging emphasizes inner beauty and holistic approaches to well-being.

Throughout this timeline, we see a complex interplay between societal expectations of women's appearances and their fight for equality and self-determination. While the beauty industry often perpetuates narrow beauty standards and age-related anxieties, women's rights movements have consistently challenged these norms and advocated for diverse representations of beauty and well-being.

It's important to note that this is just a snapshot of a complex and multifaceted issue. The relationship between anti-aging advertising and women's rights continues to evolve, and there are many nuanced perspectives and experiences to consider.

So, what do you think? Is modern society out to keep women from reaching their true potential or am I conflating 2 very different phenomena?

I’d love to hear from you so leave some thoughts and join the conversation now!