The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf

Female beauty is used as a “political weapon against woman’s advancement” (123) When feminism rose and became recognized in the early 1970s, woman gained many things to they’re benefits; however, beauty was an element that was used against them and destroyed them psychologically. They were mentally unstable about they’re appearances and keeping their beauty intact became the main goal of every woman. Each woman has two selves; one is for society to see and judge, the other is kept hidden and trapped within, banging on the door to be freed. The Beauty Myth in some aspects took away the freedom that women had fought for so long to achieve. It made them so aware of their looks that they were vulnerable to what the society thought of them. On the other hand, due to the fact that technology had not developed as much as it has today, “an ordinary woman was exposed to few such images outside the Church.” (125) Therefore, they were less affected by the Beauty Myth. Furthermore, during the olden times, women only had to function for “the service of the divine womb.” (125) These circumstances are similarly demonstrated in A Handmaid’s Tale where romance is forbidden and the Handmaid’s duty is to reproduce.

Pressure is one of the main causes to why many women undergo surgery to become the stereotypical “beautiful”. Pressure was placed onto all women for acceptance into society and men. This again relates to A Handmaid’s Tale and can he portrayed through the character Janice. She can be described as a conformist as she is always ready to do whatever Gilead demands her to do. When she became pregnant, she was envied by all other Handmaid’s. Greed is an effect a woman obtains from beauty. Once you have had a dose of it, you need more, you become addicted. Beauty is a drug and when one sees images of beautiful women, you naturally long to be beautiful like “them” because they are accepted and respected in society. Germaine Greer described the “Stereotype”: “I’m sick of the masquerade.” (124) At first all that women do is put on a mask for society to judge them by. However, pressure and greed become increasingly elevated within themselves and they become transformed. Women become transformed into the society’s ideal being. They do not become their own ideal self. They are followers to the wants of society.

Beauty has two primary targets: society and men. Since feminism rose to power, the beauty myth has grown stronger and stronger and is out of control. “Thirty three thousand American women told researchers that they would rather lose ten to fifteen pounds than achieve any other goal.” (123) Similar to A Handmaid’s Tale, some women in the club, Jezebels, portray this idea as they have given up on themselves and become prostitutes. They have given up and become all of the Commander’s traits of an ideal woman. Pleasing the Commander is their only goal and this is done through their dressing (short, skimpy clothes), seductive behavior and cosmetics (tons of makeup).