Zoe Galletta Contributor

The idea of a woman’s worth being placed predominantly on her beauty and appearance is not a foreign concept. In fact, it has deep historical and social roots, from mere social acceptance to economic survival. To say that a woman who focuses on her looks is self-obsessed or vain is unjust and lacks an understanding of the pressure placed on women to stay socially valued.

Historically, a woman’s external appearance could be her biggest blessing or biggest curse. Social structures and laws made it extremely difficult for women to live comfortably and independently without a male figure. For example, married women were once restricted from owning property or taking out a credit card without their husband’s approval. Women therefore relied on marriage for financial and social stability, which placed extreme pressure on them to be courted and desired within the male gaze.

There is a long history across countries and cultures in which a woman’s appearance is treated as her currency. For example, many women and girls in China living in the 10th to 20th century were familiar with a beauty practice, or rather, a brutal homemade procedure, called foot-binding. Young girls between the ages of five and six would have their toes smashed and shaped to fit the standard foot sizing that was deemed socially acceptable. The most desirable foot was three inches, which equates to the length of a crayon. Women with feet five inches or longer were deemed unsuitable for marriage. Another example is from 16th to 19th century Europe, when having extremely pale skin signified wealth and high status. Women would pale their faces with a product called Venetian Ceruse, which combined white lead and vinegar. These ingredients were so lethal that it caused hair loss, early cognitive decline, and tooth loss. For reference, ceruse is currently used by woodworkers for wood finishing.

After understanding even just a fragment of this history, I find it difficult to confuse these pressures with vanity. We think that there has been a rise in vanity, but we fail to acknowledge that female beauty standards have always been about more than self-obsession. We have been taught, both subconsciously and blatantly, that our value is directly linked to our outer appearance.

You may think that these practices are ancient history, but they are closer to our reality than you may realize. Think about the normalization of cosmetic surgery, filters, photo editing, unrealistic body standards, and excessive use of beauty products to try to achieve unachievable standards. The practices may have been modified, but the underlying concept is the same: women are constantly taught that their bodies, just the way they are, are never enough.

So, the next time you want to judge a woman for “obsessing” over her looks, I encourage you to think about the history of broken bones and toxic beauty practices that conditioned us to believe that our worth is directly attached to our beauty.