The Myth of Perfection | Article by Ross Barrantes

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Ross Barrantes*

In the 21st century, social media and mass media have immersed us in obsessive culture With physical perfection. We are constantly bombarded with promotions for aesthetic procedures: from 2×1 facial contouring to the popular “before and after” liposuction. In this scenario, the body becomes an obligatory stop in the race to become “ours.”best version“But the crucial question arises: is it always good to improve? Is self-improvement really a form of self-care or can it be a form of self-aggression?

Naomi WolfIn his book, The Beauty Myth, he explores how society ruthlessly imposes beauty standards that profoundly affect people’s self-esteem and well-being, especially women. Wolf argues that beauty has become form of social control“a trap” that keeps women busy, anxious, and focused on their appearance, distracting them from their true power and potential. Through concrete examples, Wolf shows that these beauty standards are less a personal choice and more a personal choice. reaction to social pressure.

To illustrate this, I recall the case of a close friend. Convinced that by adjusting her nose she would gain greater confidence and happiness, she decided to undergo treatment. cosmetic surgery. But instead of finding the peace he was looking for, his attention quickly turned to other parts of his body, beginning an endless cycle of self-criticism. What began as self-care became a constant source of stress And discontent.

The impact of these standards is not limited to individuals; it also affects the policies and systems that surround them. In the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do SulFor example, they offer free cosmetic surgeries teenagers who became victims bullyingWhile the goal is to alleviate the suffering caused by bullying, the solution lies in changing the appearance of young people rather than addressing the root of the problem: intolerance And social cruelty.

In Mexico, the quest to achieve these beauty ideals has led to an alarming rise in medical malpractice cases, according to a report from National Medical Arbitration Commission (CONNAMED), more than 1,500 cases of abuse related to aesthetic procedures were reported between 2011 and 2021. These cases range from minor complications to catastrophic consequences that cause irreversible physical and emotional damage to patients.

Besides, pressure achieving extreme thinness resulted in an increase eating disordersAccording to the Ministry of Health, in Mexico, about 1.6% of female adolescents suffer from anorexiaand these numbers continue to grow. The obsession with thinness affects not only physical healthbut also mentalwhich has led many young women into a cycle of self-destruction in the name of perfection.

IN social mediaany slight wrinkle or imperfection is quickly punished with hurtful comments and suggestions for treatment. This situation invites a Foucauldian reading: visible bodies, put up for comparison, are valued with likes and punished with hateful comments. Algorithms programmed according to dominant beauty standards act as ruthless judgessurveillance, display and exploitation of our bodies, discrediting and dismantling them in a brutal and savage way.

A concrete example of such vigilance is the promise dental aligners to ensure perfect symmetry and a good bite. However, behind this promise lies profitable market that exploits people’s insecurities by turning our bodies into products that need to be improved to fit an unattainable ideal.

To counteract these dangers, it is essential to implement standards that regulate beauty standardspreventing them from becoming excessive and dangerous. Some countries have already passed laws against promoting anorexia and began to regulate aesthetic centers that posed risks to the health of their clients. In Mexico, for example, reforms were made to ensure that only certified doctors could perform their work. aesthetic proceduresthereby reducing the risks of abuse.

It is also important to ask how Media They perpetuate these standards. In the newsroom, the “perfectly beautiful” are usually the ones who appear on the covers of magazines, and those who don’t meet the standards are the ones who appear on the covers of magazines. made invisibleTo make the list, a woman must meet certain beauty criteria, and a bald, overweight man can become the CEO of a multinational corporation and deserve applause for his leadership. This double standards reinforces the cycle of destructive perfectionism that continues to impact society.

So this is how we take care of ourselves? The true form of self-care should focus on acceptance and self lovebeyond imposed standards. After all, we are more than our appearance, and our worth should not be subordinated to an unattainable ideal of beauty. Perfectionism, if pursued excessively, can become attacktool self-punishment instead of self-care. We must think about what self-care really means and how we can free ourselves from standards that, instead of lifting us up, bind us.

*Constitutional lawyer
Follow me on my X account: @rossbarrantess