Beauty: is it cultural/racial or universal??

Question

okay i was talking to my friends as usual about this and like most of us do believe that beauty is defined differently in different races and cultures but we also acknowledge that white oppression in society has taken its toll on pretty much every other race/culture. thats why the universal pageants and what not usually favor a more european look, why asians like eye surgery, why black girls and some latinas always have to have straight hair, why darker skin is often seen as less desirable, why most white/asian/etc. guys like anorexic looking chicks, etc.

im black. yay me : ) and im only 18 but as i get older i start favoring a more ethnic look. i still think every race is equal but sometimes i just get bored with blonde haired blue eyed girls with orange skin and no shape. i definitely think black women are beautiful but my friends always point out that ive never dated a black guy.hypocritical? its confusing. what about you? opinions plz!! : )

Answer 1

It is cultural, but many people don't respect other's cultures.

Answer 2

this is a really good question!

honestly i think it's a racial thing. these days i keep hearing and seeing that men like the south american, latina, tanned skin, curves, lips and all the feautres that perhaps Brazillian women (Adriana Lima) would have.

Answer 3

Well, yes, sort of, kinda.

First, individuals vary tremendously as far as what they find attractive, pretty, beautiful.

There are some universalish principles.

And then there's the big cultural factor, too.

Uh, anyone who takes their cues from those disgusting contests is not in their right mind.

There are certainly people of all races who are considered beautiful by most people. (Denzel! -- I know of no white chick who doesn't consider him HOT. -- to mention just one example; there are others.)

Uh, if all you see are blue-eyed blondes on TV, then you aren't looking very closely, as that's just one look. (As I was reading that sentence of yours, since I've been rewatching Buffy lately, Cordelia sprang to mind. I mean, come ON! Dark haired, dark-eyed, dark-skinned drop-down-dead beauty -- although not black exactly, but that's just who sprang to mind.)

As for who you've dated, is it that you don't find black guys appealing? Or that there aren't many in your environment? Or what?

I've seen some very beautiful black women. Not just the mixed, white-featured type, but African-looking women.

There are beautiful women, and men, of every race.

There's a fair amount of consensus as to which they are; but there's also a lot of individual variation.

Answer 4

beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

sometimes the beholder is society. when that is the case then that opinion will change fairly quickly, since the masses are so easily swayed.