The ugly truth

The constant fight to end beauty standards seems to many like an admirable cause. Yet as it's often the case, these righteous endeavors bear with them many bothersome issues. Doesn't it seem strange that the ones with the strongest, loudest voices against beauty standards are also the ones who dump makeup on themselves and buy the trendiest outfits in an attempt to beautify themselves? It's always bothered me that the hypocrite is myself. 

I so easily rationalize to look beyond the physical appearance of others and find the prevalent problems with societally defined standards of attractiveness, yet I can't escape the encompassing force of judgment. I've felt such a tear in character between the rational, well-meaning man seeking equality and the instinctive, and more powerful judging man. It bothers me that every person proclaiming to end the tyranny of beauty is also the one seeking the most attractive spouse. 

Of course, I feel a terrible imagining the problems faced by the ones societally deemed "ugly". To imagine waking up each morning "trying to discover the secret of the ugliness"(Morrison 45) in the mirror is a thought so gruesome and unsettling that any person with any empathy at all will feel for. I can hardly imagine walking through the hallways attempting to avoid the gazes of others and praying each night for someone, anyone, to find me attractive enough to date. Then again, I feel so terrible knowing that I will be the one who'll be judging as well, and sometimes I feel as if all we can do is feel bad for that person; as if sympathy will help cure their ugliness. 

If Pecola lived in our school today, I would certainly wish with all my heart that someone would find her beautiful, but I know that I would never even consider her as someone lovable. As Pecola walks through Troy High receiving sympathy and blessings from each individual before she's brushed off and walks home each day still alone. I think that's the issue, that we're treating those who are ugly as a problem, hoping that someone will solve it, but desperately avoiding the problem ourselves. Those who aren't beautiful are objectified into a pitiful creature in need of sympathy; a poor thing everyone hopes that another person will come along and take home while they themselves walk home to the comfort of their perfectly groomed cats and dogs. 

So then what is there left to do? The fight between the morally right ideals and the reality that actually takes control of our lives is ever prevalent. Every man that I know will wish for themselves to find the most beautiful girl, and leave the issue of morality up to verbal debate and others to deal with. 

Should I attempt to correct my own ideal of beauty, and find the traditional "ugliness" to be mesmerizing, or should I attempt to completely remove all judgment of appearance? Perhaps the problem isn't in informing others the many detrimental issues with beauty standards, almost everyone has already experienced its harmful effects, but to dissect it more carefully and find a way to approach the problem at hand. 

In all honesty, I wish I could say I have a solution, and that our fight on outward appearance can finally end, but alas I'm just as lost as the next person. I can completely acknowledge the presence of the problem, but that doesn't make it any smaller. Perhaps all I can do for now is engage in small battles of morality each day with myself, and hope that someone will find a cure to the hypocritical problem of beauty.