Beauty and Image-The non-universal norm

How we perceive image is both personal and pre-determined. Our upbringing, what we watch on TV, school, the workplace...These all conspire to create an attitude, opinion and perception on what we perceive as being appropriate or beautiful.

Girls magazines portray particular make-up, cosmetics, clothes and hair styles as being 'the best' and 'in fashion'. If we do not adhere to this, we are deemed unfashionable. Perhaps this is a tunnel vision approach but consider this if you will for a moment. Sit in a coffee shop and look out of the window. If you people watch, for say an hour. How many people will you see that one would call 'alternative'? How many do you then see who are like River Island or Topshop models?

Vogue-The No 1 High Fashion Magazine

Let us now consider Africa. The women are considered beautiful with lip plates in their mouths. The bigger the lip plate, the better. Imagine the reaction of people if you walked down your local high street with face paint, a lip plate and ear stretchers?

Now of course this is a cultural issue and subsequently culture determines many of our conceptions, even if we do not realise it. We, in the UK are a westernised culture. While fashion changes from country to country in the west, a certain trend remains; the influence of the TV, media, magazines and whatever the latest retail shops are selling. It is often their own interpretation of the same thing, so it differs marginally.

Therefore, unique and alternative is culturally defined.

What one looks like in the UK may be looked upon in a very different way in Africa or the Middle East say. So everything must be addressed in a cultural perspective. There is great tolerance in the Western culture for most if not all things, in relation to culture and lifestyles. There is great religious freedom to worship whatever and however you want. One can marry whoever they want also, in most countries, be that a gay, lesbian or heterosexual relationship. We can wear whatever we want. We do not need to cover up when we go outside for religions reasons. We can drink alcohol publicly in some places.and purchase it at almost any time. Medicine is readily available and healthcare options vary from the scientific to the divine (such as meditation, massage, reiki and herbal remedies) without fear of persecution for witchcraft of devil worship.

So in a sense we are lucky to live in such a free society. However we must understand the culture in which we live. We have choice. This choice is not without its infringements. Pressure on how to look and what to wear will always exist. But the choice is ultimately ours.