Claudia thinks, “Adults, older girls, shops, magazine, newspapers, window signs – all the world had agreed that a blue-eyed, yellow-haired, pink-skinned doll was what every girl treasured” because it was deemed “beautiful.” How did you see beauty standards impacting the different girls in the novel? How are things different today, and how are things the same?
It’s incredibly sad to think of any child (or adult) doubting their own self worth because of societal values, and specifically something as beautiful as skin color. I think one of the reasons this book is still widely read is that theme is as relevant today as when it was written. I’d even say it’s worse today with more advertising, tv, movies and social media. Girls especially are subjected to beauty standards at such a young age, and it’s in their face every day after. And to go even farther, it’s absolutely now as much an issue for all genders, which I’d guess wasn’t so much in the past.
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I see these “standards of beauty” both the same and different today. I know and observe many who are seemingly independent of those standards, apparently moving through their lives with their own styles. At the same time I worry about the many tragedies that continue to occur, with all genders but especially among women, with the advent of mass media and especially social media. I have no answers.
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I’d like to think there is a larger contingent of self-confident teenagers out there now than there was then. Some media are making more of a point to include larger models, for example. But I do feel like it remains a challenge for teenagers to celebrate their differences.
I think it’s still the same today, and in fact, much worse. These days, young girls-children—can watch “influencers” on their phones telling them all kinds of mistaken, possibly dangerous “information” about how to look “right.” I think the pressure is everywhere for all of us to feel ‘wrong’ unless we meet up to some impossible cultural standards.
Pecola wasn’t told that she was beautiful, cute, nice looking. She wanted to believe that having blue eyes would make her more acceptable in the eyes of others. People today have all kinds of cosmetic surgeries to be happier with how they look. Is anyone ever really happy with how they look? We say, “I’m having a bad hair day”, or “I look terrible because I didn’t get much sleep.”
I think most all girls want to be pretty no matter what demographic they come from. In Pecola’s case, I think she equated beauty with love. Sadly, I think a lot of women feel this way today as well. Because of exposure to social media, television, magazines, etc, I think women today often struggle with not feeling like they are enough because they are comparing themselves to celebrities.
I think the blue eyed, yellow haired, pink skinned, slim, image is still damaging to all our young girls, whether they are Caucasian, black, or other ethnicities. Society has tried very hard to counteract this, but I believe it still exist in the young girls.
I agree with Emily that our society with its massive media presence has added to identity problems especially of girls. And even I am not immune— I am overweight and have only recently seen ads of plus-sized women shown in a positive light. It’s difficult to feel “pretty” when the standard requires a perfect shape.
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The girls in the novel definitely feel a societal pressure to be fair-skinned and light-eyed. I think that while today society is more accepting of all skin tones and body features, there is still some preference for the lighter tones. Over time, I expect that these preferences will change and society will be more accepting.
Pecola is constantly told that she is ugly, which leads her to believe she is unworthy of love, safety and happiness. Claudia dismembers her white dolls symbolizing her rejection that only white features are beautiful. Frieda shares Claudia’s frustration but is more passive about it. Maureen, who has lighter skin, defends Pecola and then insults her, revealing her belief in her own superiority. Referring to differences today include more Black women in media. Beauty has a broader definition. Movies and TV show a wider range of beauty. Yet, colorism still exists and dark-skinned Black girls still face discrimination. And light skin, straight hair and European features are still dominant.